Heavy rain blocked Himachal Mandi roads : Mandi flash floods landslides August 2025

A peaceful morning but Heavy rain blocked Himachal Mandi roads Manali turned tense yesterday as heavy monsoon rain battered the hill town, triggering landslides, swelling rivers, and choking key highways, including the lifeline Chandigarh–Manali route. For residents, it wasn’t just another rainy day — it was a fight against rising water, blocked roads, and growing anxiety.

It came too fast we didn’t even get time to lift the sacks,” said Rajni Devi, a vegetable vendor near Patlikuhal, wiping her drenched shawl as she pointed to where her stall once stood. “Everything was swept away.”

Flash Floods, Landlines Cut, and Over 300 Roads Shut

As per data released by the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), a total of 309 roads were blocked across the state on August 5. The most affected regions included Mandi (171 roads blocked) and Kullu (76 roads). The incessant rainfall also disrupted over 100 power transformers and 100+ water supply schemes**, cutting off essential services to hundreds of homes.

In Manali and surrounding areas, multiple stretches of the Chandigarh Manali National Highway (NH-3) were closed due to landslides and falling debris, leaving buses, private cars, and even ambulances stranded for hours.Tourists heading to and from Rohtang and Atal Tunnel were asked to turn back as conditions worsened.

Rescue Teams on High Alert

Teams from the Public Works Department (PWD), disaster response units, and local administration worked through the night, attempting to clear landslides and restore some semblance of connectivity. Evacuation efforts began in low-lying villages along the Beas River, which saw a dangerous rise in water level by late afternoon.

“We’ve moved families from Seobagh and Bajaura to temporary shelters set up in local schools,” confirmed District Collector Apoorva Devgan. “Our priority is safety. We’re keeping a close watch on river behavior and vulnerable slopes.”

Tourism Comes to a Halt

Manali’s tourism sector, already reeling from off-season dips, took a fresh hit. With roadblocks making travel uncertain, several hotels reported mass cancellations.

Rohit Thakur, manager at a mid-sized hotel in Old Manali, said: “We were almost at 40% occupancy for the Raksha Bandhan weekend. Now, barely 5% guests remain. Safety is a bigger concern than business right now.”

Tourists stuck in the town took to social media, sharing images of landslide-hit roads and waterlogged paths. Some hiked several kilometers to reach main roads.

Monsoon Toll: 170+ Lives Lost This Season

This incident is just one thread in a larger, troubling pattern. Himachal Pradesh has lost 176 lives so far this monsoon, with the highest casualties reported from Mandi (38), followed by Kangra (33) and Kullu (19) districts. The estimated loss to public infrastructure has crossed ₹1,850 cror*, a figure likely to rise as damage assessments continue.

Looking Ahead: Early Warning and Better Preparedness

Acknowledging the recurring devastation, the Himachal government announced plans to implement an AI-powered early warning system for flash floods and landslides, especially in vulnerable regions like Kullu-Manali.

“The terrain is fragile, and unplanned construction has only made it worse,” said Prof. Dinesh Rawat, a climate expert from Shimla University. “AI won’t solve everything, but it can give us precious minutes — and in disasters, minutes matter.”

A Town Holding On

As the rain paused for a few hours late last night, locals stepped out to clear debris from doorways and check on neighbors. Children played in puddles, unaware of the chaos earlier in the day. For the people of Manali, resilience isn’t a choice — it’s a rhythm learned with every season.

“Every year the hills test us,” said Nirmal Thakur, a retired schoolteacher from Aleo. “And every year, we stand back up.”