Dharampur – Mandi bus stand to be shifted after repeated flooding; flashfloods, landslides claim lives in Himachal

Shimla, Sept 17,

Torrential rains triggered widespread destruction across Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, leading to landslides, flashfloods, road blockages and major disruptions in essential services. Several lives were lost in Mandi district, while the government announced that the flood-prone Dharampur bus stand would finally be relocated to a safer site.

In Bragta village of Nihari Ki Boi panchayat, Sundernagar (Mandi), a massive landslide struck around 5 am, collapsing the house of Khub Ram. Five family members were buried; two were rescued, but three perished. The deceased were identified as Tangu Devi (64), wife of Jai Singh, Kamala Devi (33), wife of Devraj, and Khub Ram’s grandson.

In another tragedy, in Darang area of Mandi, two cousins were swept away when a makeshift wooden bridge collapsed over the swollen Suma drain. Villagers recovered the body of Prem Singh, while his cousin Manohar Lal remains missing.

The Dharampur bus stand in Mandi, inaugurated in 2012 but repeatedly inundated due to its location near Son Khad, was once again submerged. With this being the latest in a series of damages, the government has finally decided to shift the facility to a safer location.

Meanwhile, heavy overnight rain left rivers and drains swollen across the state. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for more rain, warning of fresh landslides and flashfloods.

Rainfall figures in the past 24 hours: Shimla (140 mm), Nagrota Surian in Kangra (130 mm), Chuari in Chamba (80 mm), Sundernagar in Mandi (60 mm), and several areas including Kangra town, Mandi town and Naina Devi recorded 50 mm.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, this monsoon season (June 20 – Sept 16, 2025) has already claimed 417 human lives, left 1,668 injured, and 45 missing. Nearly 1,668 houses have been fully damaged, 2,062 partially, along with 4,441 cow sheds and 918 shops/labour huts destroyed. Crop and horticulture losses span over 2.8 lakh hectares, with an estimated financial impact of Rs 4,582 crore.

As of Tuesday evening, 652 roads, including NH-03, NH-305 and NH-503A, remain blocked by landslides. Power and water supply have also been severely affected, with 924 distribution transformers disrupted and 243 water schemes collapsed.

Authorities have urged residents to stay vigilant, avoid travel near rivers and drains, and promptly report emergencies to disaster management teams.