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Key Points

Thunag in Mandi faces acute water shortage after cloudbursts wrecked pipelines and transformers. Jal Shakti officials report 81 panchayats affected with restoration efforts hampered by landslides. Mandi remains worst-hit with 200 blocked roads and 236 damaged transformers. Authorities warn residents to boil water as teams work to restore essential services.

Key Points: Himachal's Mandi Faces Water Crisis After Cloudburst Damages Infrastructure

  • Cloudbursts destroy water supply infrastructure in Mandi's Thunag
  • 278 water schemes disrupted across Himachal
  • 236 transformers damaged in Mandi alone
  • Landslides block 269 roads statewide
3 min read

Himachal Pradesh: Thunag in Mandi faces severe water crisis after cloudburst

Thunag in Mandi district reels under severe water shortage after floods wash away pipelines and transformers, disrupting supply to 81 panchayats.

"Our transformers and machinery have been washed away... tracing them is a huge challenge - Anju Sharma, Jal Shakti Dept"

Mandi, July 7

Thunag in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district is facing a severe water crisis after recent cloudbursts and floods washed away machinery, water pipes, and transformers used to extract and supply clean water.

Jal Shakti Department Chief Engineer Anju Sharma visited the area to assess the damage. Speaking to ANI, she said, "All 81 panchayats in this constituency have been affected. Our people are tracing the sources... We collected all the staff as it is very difficult to reach from one place to another."

She added, "The pipes have been arranged, but it is difficult to reach... We have gone a lot back for permanent restoration. The big schemes have suffered a huge setback. Our transformers and machinery have been washed away and tracing it is a huge challenge for the department and trying to do it on war level. I want to appeal to the people to support the department and use the water from storage or hand pumps and drink only after boiling it."

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), continuous rainfall across Himachal Pradesh in the past 24 hours has seriously impacted public utilities. A total of 269 roads have been blocked, 285 electricity transformers disrupted, and 278 water supply schemes have stopped functioning.

In its daily situation report issued at 10 am on July 6, the SEOC stated that Mandi is the worst affected district, with 200 roads blocked due to heavy rains. The district also reported the highest number of damaged transformers (236) and disrupted water schemes (278) in the state.

Kullu district was the second most impacted in terms of road access, with 39 roads blocked in areas like Banjar and Nirmand due to landslides. Chamba reported 32 blocked roads and 17 damaged transformers in sub-divisions such as Salooni, Dalhousie, and Bharmour.

"The heavy monsoon showers have triggered landslides, waterlogging, and infrastructure damage, disrupting road connectivity and essential services across multiple districts," the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said. "Efforts are underway to restore services swiftly, and field teams are on alert in highly affected regions such as Mandi and Kullu."

The report added that districts like Shimla, Solan, and Lahaul and Spiti saw minimal or no disruption. However, SDMA warned that continued rainfall could worsen the situation.

Authorities have advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in areas prone to landslides. Restoration efforts are ongoing, with the Public Works, Electricity, and Jal Shakti departments actively working to repair damaged infrastructure.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
Kudos to the Jal Shakti department staff working in such difficult conditions! 🙏 But I wonder - why aren't we using more durable materials for water pipes in hilly areas? The same infrastructure gets washed away every year. Maybe time to invest in better technology?
A
Aman W
Climate change is making these disasters worse each year. We need to stop blaming only the government and start changing our own habits too - less plastic, more tree plantation drives. Himachal's beauty is being destroyed before our eyes 😢
P
Priyanka N
The water crisis is terrible, but I'm glad to see the authorities being transparent about the situation. The detailed numbers (278 water schemes affected!) show they're actually assessing the damage properly. Hope restoration happens quickly!
V
Varun X
While the situation is bad, I appreciate the Chief Engineer's practical advice about boiling water. Many villagers might not realize the health risks. Maybe local radio stations can broadcast these safety messages in Pahari language too?
N
Nisha Z
Tourists should avoid these areas completely right now. Last year during similar floods, so many people were still coming for vacations and creating more problems for rescue teams. Let the locals get help first!

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