Around 70 to 80 vehicles are currently stranded inside a tunnel on the Mandi-Manali highway, with an estimated 250 to 300 people trapped due to a landslide triggered by relentless rainfall. The affected tunnel, blocked from both the Hanogi and Pandoh ends since around midnight, has cut off movement towards both Kullu and Mandi. Fortunately, everyone near the tunnel is reported to be safe at the moment. Authorities have arranged food supplies for the stranded individuals at the nearby Hanogi Mata Temple.
So far, one person has been confirmed dead, and 12 to 13 others remain missing. Rescue operations are underway at several locations, with efforts currently focused on locating and extracting 11 people trapped in tunnels numbered 11 and 13, located near Hanogi. Both ends of these tunnels are still obstructed by debris. Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorva Devgan noted that the exact number of people still inside remains unclear. Last night, 34 people were successfully rescued from the site.
These incidents come amid widespread devastation caused by torrential rain in Himachal Pradesh, which has unleashed severe flooding across the region. The Beas River is overflowing, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, warning of more intense downpours and a heightened risk of flash floods and landslides.
According to the IMD, Himachal Pradesh has seen heavy to very heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours. Palampur recorded the highest rainfall at 76 mm, followed by Banjar with 75 mm and Sirmaur with 55 mm. “Almost all areas in the state have seen rain,” said Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Senior Scientist at the IMD’s Shimla Centre. “People are strongly advised to stay away from rivers and streams as the threat of landslides remains significant.”
What Lies Ahead: Brief Respite, Then More Rain
Forecasters had predicted a short-lived relief on June 28, but heavy rain is expected to intensify again by June 29 and 30, especially in mid-hill and high-altitude regions. An orange alert was earlier issued for the latter half of the week, warning of continued flooding and landslide threats in several districts.
Districts such as Una, Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu, and Mandi remain on high alert as authorities scramble to respond to multiple emergencies unfolding across the state.