Mandi at a Standstill: 333 Roads Blocked, Over 2,000 Vehicles Stranded

Shimla, Updated At : 17:03 PM Aug 27, 2025 IST

Mandi district is facing a severe weather crisis, with transportation services completely paralyzed due to rising water levels in the Beas River and large-scale landslides disrupting essential services. A total of 333 roads, including the vital Kiratpur–Manali National Highway, remain blocked, leaving more than 2,000 vehicles stranded between Mandi and Kullu.

The highway became impassable on Tuesday morning following landslides at Dwada, Jhalogi, and Banala. The situation worsened after the alternative route via Kataula also turned unsafe. The Siraj division has been hit the hardest, with 95 roads blocked, followed by Karsog (62), Dharampur (57), Thalout (54), and several other sub-divisions reporting dozens of closures.

Beyond road blockages, the rural belt of Mandi is grappling with widespread power outages after 402 transformers went offline. Drinking water supply has also been disrupted, with 62 water schemes affected, impacting both urban and rural populations.

The swollen Beas River has surged past the danger mark, inundating houses along its banks in Sauli Khad and parts of Mandi town. At the confluence of the Beas and Suketi rivers, a portion of the historic Panchvaktra temple has gone underwater, sparking concern among residents. In Balichowki sub-division, two houses collapsed, though no casualties or injuries were reported.

Following the damage, Additional Deputy Commissioner Gursimar Singh, along with Additional Superintendent of Police Sachin Hiremat, conducted field inspections of the affected highway stretches. Heavy destruction was observed near Pandoh, the Baglamukhi ropeway, and Jogni Mata temple due to landslides. The ADC has ordered immediate restoration work.

Most of the stranded vehicles are commercial, and the administration has arranged safe shelters and meals for drivers. Two relief camps, with a combined capacity of 300 people, have been set up at Government Senior Secondary School, Pandoh, and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Pandoh.

Traffic control points have been established at Seven Mile, Nine Mile, and Pandoh, where vehicle movement is permitted only under safe conditions.

Meanwhile, authorities at the Larji and Pandoh dams have begun releasing water from their reservoirs due to the rising level of the Beas. Residents have been advised to stay away from riverbanks for the next 24 hours.

The district administration is working to restore normalcy and has urged people to follow weather advisories and avoid risky areas. In case of emergency, citizens can call helpline number 1077 or contact the district control room at 01905-226201 to 226204.