Cloudburst in Himachal’s Mandi washes away buses, buries houses, shops

A cloudburst in Himachal’s Mandi district submerged Dharampur bus stand, swept away vehicles, and buried shops under debris. One person is feared missing as rescue teams battle damage across multiple areas.

Shimla: An overnight cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district submerged the bus stand and market in Dharampur town, washed away many parked buses of the state-run Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) and cars, and buried houses and shops under debris.

One person is feared missing as flash floods triggered by the cloudburst wreaked havoc in Dharampur, about 250 km from here, inundating vast areas, officials said on Tuesday.

Locals said the devastation and flooding caused by the swollen Saun rivulet, a tributary of the Beas, was massive compared to 2015. Heavy rains in most parts of Mandi, the worst-affected district, began around 11 p.m. and intensified by 1 a.m., forcing residents out of their homes in fear.

The HRTC buses parked at the bus stand were submerged, and some were swept away. Houses on the rivulet’s banks were inundated, and many vehicles were carried away in the strong current.

People waiting at the bus stand rushed to upper floors as water entered the complex, flooding shops. Residents climbed onto rooftops to stay safe, while nearly 150 children were rescued to higher floors of a hostel.

According to police, there have been no confirmed human casualties so far. One person is missing, while many four-wheelers and two-wheelers were washed away. Debris also entered several houses and shops.

By Tuesday morning, the rivulet’s water level had returned to normal. Locals joined rescue efforts, though strong currents initially hampered operations. The administration has mobilised machinery to step up relief and rescue work.

Besides Dharampur, heavy rain lashed the Sarkaghat subdivision of the district.

Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur said the rain had caused colossal damage. He described reports of missing persons from Dharampur and Sarkaghat as worrying.

“I urge the people of the state to remain alert in this weather, give priority to the safety of themselves and their families, and follow the guidelines issued by the administration completely,” Thakur added.

The state capital, Shimla, and nearby areas also reported multiple landslides and disruption of life due to the downpour.