New Delhi, Jul 6 — Relentless monsoon rains continue to devastate Himachal Pradesh, with the death toll rising to 74 and over three dozen people still reported missing. Mandi district remains the worst affected, where search and rescue teams are racing to locate at least 30 people feared trapped under debris after flash floods and cloudbursts earlier this week.
Operations led by the SDRF, NDRF, police, and army are ongoing, though harsh terrain and damaged infrastructure are hampering efforts. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured preparedness, even as the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) estimated losses nearing ₹566 crore — a figure the CM said could be closer to ₹700 crore.
The IMD has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts on Sunday, with an orange alert in seven other districts. Damage has been reported from several areas, including the washing away of roads and small bridges in Mandi district’s Padhar area due to a cloudburst in Swad Nallah.
Rainfall continues across the state, with Nagrota Suriyan recording the highest at 102.4 mm. The MeT department has warned of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging in parts of Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, and other central districts over the next 24 hours.
The state continues to face disruptions, with 258 transformers and 278 water supply schemes affected. Fourteen bodies have been recovered so far in Mandi, and the search for the 31 missing continues with the help of sniffer dogs and advanced rescue technology. Residents have been advised to stay indoors and avoid rivers, drains, and vulnerable areas.
