Heavy rains triggered a massive landslide near Kangra early Tuesday, blocking the National Highway to Dharamsala and stranding hundreds of vehicles. Essential services like milk and newspaper delivery were disrupted. No officials reached the site for hours, sparking public anger.In Mandi, flash floods caused by overnight rainfall claimed two lives and left one person missing. The flood swept away vehicles and damaged homes in Tungal Colony. Rescue operations are ongoing.Several key roads, including the Chandigarh-Manali and Mandi-Pathankot highways, remain blocked.Flashfloods wreak havoc in MandiA devastating flash flood struck Mandi district early Tuesday morning, claiming two lives, leaving one person missing, and injuring another. The incident occurred on Jail Road Tungal colony in Mandi town following heavy overnight rainfall that triggered a sudden deluge, causing widespread destruction. According to local authorities, the flashflood washed away dozens of parked vehicles, while muck and debris entered homes and damaged property across the area. Residents were caught off guard by the sudden rise in water levels.Hardeep Singh Raja, ward councillor of Palace Colony, reported that the tragedy struck when four members of a family stepped out of their home in wee hours in an attempt to shift their vehicle to a safer location. In that moment, a strong gush of floodwater swept through the area, carrying three of them away. One family member suffered a fractured leg and was admitted to a local hospital in critical condition.So far, rescue teams have recovered two bodies, while search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing individual. Personnel from the district administration, SDRF, and local volunteers are engaged in clearing debris and aiding affected residents.In addition to the human toll, the flash floods and associated landslides have severely disrupted connectivity in the region. The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway has been blocked at multiple points — specifically at 4 Miles and 9 Miles near Pandoh — isolating traffic between Mandi and Kullu. The Mandi-Pathankot highway is also closed due to a landslide at the Lavandi Bridge near Jogindernagar.Several other interior roads in the district have also been rendered impassable due to landslides and waterlogging. Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.District officials are monitoring the situation closely, and relief measures including temporary shelters, medical assistance, and food supplies are being provided to those affected.Massive landslide near KangraA massive landslide triggered by incessant rains blocked the National Highway near Kangra in the early hours of Tuesday, cutting off the only main road access to Dharamsala, McLeodganj, and surrounding areas.As a result, hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highway, causing major disruption to traffic and essential services.As per the information available, the landslide occurred around 3 am following two days of relentless rainfall in the region. Several stretches of the road were buried under mounds of debris and loose rocks. Among the stranded vehicles were newspaper delivery vans leaving early morning newspaper distribution severely affected across the region. The milk delivery and other essential commodities supply vehicles were also stranded on the highway.The highway near Purana Kangra, which was also blocked due to a landslide.Despite the seriousness of the situation, no official from the district administration, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), or the state Public Works Department (PWD) reached the site for several hours. There was no immediate effort to clear the debris, leaving commuters and tourists helpless amid continuing rainfall.“I have been stuck here since 4 am. There’s no information from the authorities, and the road is completely blocked,” said the driver of a newspaper delivery vehicle headed towards Dharamsala with a load of supplies.The blocked highway has once again exposed the fragility of road infrastructure in the hill state during the monsoon season. The administration has yet to release an official statement on when the road is expected to be cleared and traffic restored.With the weather department forecasting more rain over the next 48 hours, there is growing concern about further landslides and disruptions in the region.
Himachal rain fury: 2 dead in Mandi flashfloods; highway blocked in Dharamsala, hundreds stranded
