Six Lives lost as torrential rains trigger Landslide in Mandi
Photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Sept 3,
The monsoon’s relentless fury in Himachal Pradesh claimed at least six lives on Tuesday when a massive landslide struck the Jungambagh area of Sundernagar subdivision in Mandi district.
Two houses were swept away under heavy debris, leaving behind a trail of tragedy. Among the deceased are a mother-daughter duo, tenants residing in the damaged houses, and a passerby riding a scooter who was caught in the sudden collapse. Officials have not ruled out the possibility of more people being trapped beneath the rubble.
District Commissioner Apoorva Devgan and Superintendent of Police are camping at the site, personally monitoring rescue efforts by SDRF, NDRF, and police teams, assisted by JCB machines. Authorities said additional equipment, including breakers, could be deployed if the need arises. Two nearby houses have also been vacated as a precaution, one of which has sustained partial damage.
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Residents expressed relief that the administration has remained on the ground, noting that the swift presence of officials has accelerated the relief work.
Elsewhere, the impact of the downpour is being felt across the state. In Shimla, partial restoration of water supply brought some respite after a two-day disruption, though the volume remained below normal. In Sunni, rising levels of the Sutlej touched the Thalli bridge, flooding low-lying riverbank areas like Kalighat and ITI. Kol Dam authorities have been directed to regulate water discharge, while two families were shifted to safer locations as a precaution.
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has sounded a red alert, warning of extremely heavy rainfall in Mandi, Chamba, Kullu, and Kangra over the next 16 to 18 hours. Other districts including Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Una are also expected to receive heavy showers.
With landslides blocking several highways and rural roads, electricity and water supply hit in multiple districts, and warnings of further heavy downpour, the administration has appealed to people to remain vigilant and restrict unnecessary movement.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
