Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic cloudburst on Jail Road in Mandi district. Calling the incident “extremely painful,” he said rescue operations are underway on a war footing to find those missing and clear the debris.
The Chief Minister extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and assured that the state government is providing full support to those affected.
In a post on his social media handle, Sukhu wrote, “The cloudburst incident on Jail Road in Mandi district is extremely tragic and painful. Two people have lost their lives, and one person is reported missing, with rescue teams working tirelessly to locate them. Several vehicles have also been buried under debris. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grief-stricken families. The administration is fully alert. Instructions have been given to expedite relief and rescue operations.”
He added that the administration is fully alert and has been directed to speed up relief and rescue efforts. “I am personally monitoring the situation continuously, and all necessary assistance is being provided immediately. I also extend my gratitude to the local people who are engaged in relief efforts. The state government stands firmly with the affected people during this difficult time. I urge everyone to follow the guidelines issued by the administration and remain vigilant,” the post read.
Jairam Thakur, Leader of Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, on Tuesday also expressed concern over the heavy rains that have caused extensive damage in the Mandi region since Monday night.
Thakur said, “Since last night, it has been raining heavily in Mandi. We received information about the massive damage in the region. Till now, we have known that three bodies have been recovered and one person is missing. The NDRF teams are conducting the rescue operation...Such massive damage has never happened in this region. It is a matter of concern. It is still raining, so I appeal to everyone to follow all the precautions.”
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of continued intense rainfall in many parts of the state, including Mandi. Shimla city and nearby areas are likely to see moderate to very heavy rain over the next few hours.
Rain is also expected to continue over Kullu and Mandi for the next 2–3 hours. South Shimla, Solan, Chamba, Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, and Sirmaur districts are also expected to receive moderate to intense spells of rain soon.
Late Monday night, heavy rains triggered a flood-like situation in Mandi, causing widespread damage. According to officials, three people have died, and one woman is still missing.
District Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said Jail Road was badly hit. “Three people have died near Jail Road, and one woman is missing. The search operation by the police, NDRF and Home Guard teams is underway. The roads are also being cleared. Many vehicles have been piled up near the hospital. Casualties have been reported, along with that, many houses have been damaged.”
A relief camp has been set up at Vipasha Sadan. Teams from the electricity, PWD, Jal Shakti, and other departments are working together to provide aid.
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