By Orlin Milinov
MANDI, INDIA — Intense overnight rainfall unleashed a wave of destruction across Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, claiming the lives of a family of three in Mandi district after a massive landslide struck their home.
According to local authorities, the incident occurred early in the morning when heavy debris from a nearby cliff collapsed onto the family’s house, flattening the structure and trapping the occupants inside. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene but confirmed that all three victims had died before help could reach them.
The torrential downpour also triggered flash floods and landslides across several parts of the hill state, causing widespread damage to property and infrastructure. In Shimla, multiple vehicles — including public buses — were buried under mud and debris, while several shops and roadside structures were swept away.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri shared visuals of the devastation on social media, revealing severe damage to the Jal Shakti Department and the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) offices.
“All the employees of the corporation are safe,” she said in a post on Facebook. “Officials have reached the spot, are assessing the situation, and taking stock of the extent of damage.”
Local authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain indoors as heavy rain continues to pound several districts. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the region, warning of potential landslides, flash floods, and road blockages in the coming days.
Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing, with state disaster response teams working alongside local volunteers to clear debris and restore access to affected communities.
The devastation caused by torrential rains in Himachal Pradesh deepened on Tuesday as floods and landslides continued to wreak havoc across several districts, with the state’s Minister sharing a video of the extensive destruction in Mandi.
In Shimla, a massive landslide buried dozens of vehicles under thick layers of debris, bringing traffic to a standstill and forcing the closure of National Highway 5, which connects Firozpur in Punjab to the Sino-Indian border at Shipki La. Officials confirmed that, fortunately, no fatalities had been reported so far.
Eyewitnesses recounted moments of panic as heavy rains loosened the hillside. “It was raining heavily, and around 1 a.m., we heard a deafening sound with trees and debris sliding down. We immediately moved our vehicles,” said a man who had been sleeping in his car near the landslide site.
Emergency crews have since been deployed to clear the wreckage and restore movement along the highway. The State Disaster Management Authority said road-clearing operations were ongoing but warned that continuous rainfall was hampering progress.
The minister’s video, shared on social media, showed collapsed sections of roads, uprooted trees, and mudslides sweeping through residential areas. Rescue teams could be seen working around the clock to evacuate residents from high-risk zones.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors as weather forecasts predict more heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh in the coming days.
Himachal Pradesh remains on edge as relentless monsoon rains continue to batter the state, triggering floods and landslides that have claimed hundreds of lives. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), more than 400 people have died since June this year, with 229 fatalities linked to rain-related incidents and 175 resulting from road accidents caused by hazardous weather conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rainfall in six districts — Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur — warning residents to remain vigilant as fresh downpours could worsen the situation.
Authorities have deployed disaster response teams to high-risk areas, while rescue and relief operations are underway in regions cut off by landslides and flooding. Officials are also urging travellers to avoid unnecessary movement on hilly routes prone to collapse.
This year’s monsoon has been one of the most destructive in recent memory, leaving behind a trail of loss and displacement across Himachal Pradesh.
