Flash flood after cloudburst kills three in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, during early-morning hours

A cloudburst struck Mandi town, Himachal Pradesh, during the early hours of July 29, 2025, triggering a flash flood that killed three people from the same family and left one person missing.

The incident occurred around 03:30 local time (LT) in the Jail Road and Saini Mohalla areas, inundating residential zones and commercial streets.

The victims died while attempting to move their vehicles to safety as floodwaters advanced. Another family member, Darshan Singh, was rescued and remains hospitalized. The missing person is still being searched for by rescue teams.

The surge of water, laden with mud and debris, buried more than 20 vehicles and damaged numerous homes and shops. Roads, including sections of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, were blocked by landslides and waterlogging, disrupting connectivity between Mandi and Kullu.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration deployed teams for search-and-rescue operations. As of July 30, 193 roads remain closed in Mandi district.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued orange alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra districts, and yellow alerts for Shimla, Chamba, and Sirmaur. Authorities have urged residents to avoid riverbanks and landslide-prone areas.

A cloudburst is a localized, high-intensity rainfall event, often exceeding 100 mm/hour (4 inches/hour), capable of generating sudden flash floods, especially in steep terrain. Such events are common in the Himalayan region during the monsoon and can be catastrophic when occurring near populated areas.

References:

¹ Cloudburst triggers flash floods in Himachal’s Mandi, 3 dead – Hindustan Times – July 30, 2025

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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