Seraj Mandi Flash Flood Horror: 10 Dead, 24 Missing — Thunag-Janjheli Belt Bears the Brunt Again
Mandi (July 2): A devastating flash flood triggered by multiple cloudbursts has turned parts of Seraj Valley into a disaster zone, claiming 10 lives and leaving 24 people missing, even as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu rushed to the site by road and confirmed ongoing rescue efforts.
Thunag-Janjheli Kuklah Ravaged Again
The worst-hit region is the Bara Panjai- Thunag-Janjheli belt — battered for the third time this season. Thunag, notably, is the hometown of former CM Jai Ram Thakur, and the locals there are reeling under repeated disaster blows.
From Village Ghayan, under Gram Panchayat Bara, Tehsil Chachiot, District Mandi the victis were:
Bidhi Singh (son of Girdhari Lal) and Manghari Devi (wife of Lache Ram) have tragically lost their lives.
Girdhari Lal (son of Lache Ram), Sarla Devi (wife of Bidhi Singh), Sanjay Kumar (son of Bidhi Singh), and Divyanshu Bhardwaj (son of Bidhi Singh) have been injured.
All belong to the same family from Village Ghayan.
Jai Ram Thakur led by volunteers visited the sites on Kuklah and reached out to the devastated villagers.
Entire stretches of roads have caved in, bridges have vanished, and families are stranded in remote hill pockets.
A lot of houses have come up along the banks of nallahas and khads that has resulted in lot of deaths as the villagers could not find time to evaluate.
What We Know So Far:
Over 11 cloudburst floods struck Mandi in under 24 hours.
More than 300 people rescued; several still feared trapped in washed-away homes.
253.8 mm rainfall recorded — breaking seasonal records and triggering landslides.
Damage to over two dozen houses, key bridges, and roads has snapped connectivity.
Pandoh Dam was forced to release over 1.5 lakh cusecs of water due to river swelling.
CM Speaks Out:
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while en route to the flood-hit zones, said:
> “Rescue teams are on the ground. We are using every resource to save lives. People must avoid river banks and landslide-prone areas.”
He also admitted the state is facing a worrying rise in climate disasters, and that infrastructure losses have already crossed ₹500 crore this monsoon.
Later CM Sukhu Conducts Aerial Survey, Airlifts Relief to Thunag-Janjehli
HE directed the administration to ensure swift relief via chopper sorties due to blocked road access.
Landing at Rain-Gallu helipad in an Army chopper, the CM met affected families, handed over relief material, and assured full government support.
As roads remain cut off due to landslides, 1,000 relief kits — containing rice, flour, pulses, and other essentials — have been prepared. Of these, 90 kits were dropped at Rain-Gallu and 82 in Janjehli by air.
To restore connectivity, a V-SAT communication portal and police personnel were airlifted to Thunag. Relief camps have been set up, including one at the Government Primary School in Thunag, where over 200 people have taken shelter. They are being provided with food, medicines, and other necessities.
Massive Disruptions:
316 people rescued in Mandi alone.
Nearly 1,000 transformers damaged; widespread power and road outages.
Over 400 roads blocked, including NH stretches, paralysing movement.
Weather Warning Still On:
The IMD has issued an orange alert for more heavy rain in Himachal till July 5. Flash flood and landslide risk remains high, especially in mid-hill zones.
Ground Reality:
Villagers in Thunag and Janjhali are angry and scared. "It’s the third time in weeks. We’re watching our homes and farms get washed away again and again, and no one’s able to stop it," said a local from Bagachanogi village.
Rescue efforts continue under tough terrain. Stay tuned for real-time updates.
