Cloudburst, rising river level cause damage in Mandi, Lahaul-Spiti

A cloudburst struck the remote Kortang village under Shilabudhani panchayat in the Padhar subdivision of Mandi district late last night, damaging infrastructure and agricultural land. Due to massive soil erosion, threat is looming large over a few houses in the area. Following the incident, many villagers went sleepless last night fearing further devastation. However, there have been no reports of loss of life, officials confirmed.

According to Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Padhar, Surjeet Thakur, a team from the local administration has been deployed to assess the extent of the damage. “There is no report of any casualties so far. However, a detailed report on infrastructure and agricultural loss is being prepared,” Thakur said.

Among those affected is Maan Singh Paglani, a fish farm owner in the area, who reported that the cloudburst severely damaged the water supply pipes connected to his fish farm. This disruption poses a significant threat to the aquatic life in his facility. “Without a continuous water supply, the survival of the fish stock is at serious risk,” he said.

Significantly, the region has witnessed similar natural disasters in the past. A cloudburst incident reported in 1993 in the same area had claimed 16 lives, underlining the vulnerability of the region to such calamities.

Meanwhile, in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, land erosion was reported in Salpat village under the Udaipur subdivision. The erosion occurred due to the rising water levels of the Chenab river last night, posing a threat to local agricultural land and livelihoods.

According to information received from the Village Revenue Officer (VRO), the landowners Ramnath, Ramkishan, Jagatram, Vijesh, Ajeet Singh and Himanshu have reported erosion-related damage to their lands.

The extent of crop damage is currently being assessed. Local authorities have assured that necessary steps will be taken to support the affected families once the final report is submitted.

Both incidents highlight the growing risks posed by erratic weather patterns and rising water levels in rivers of Himachal Pradesh, bringing renewed focus to the need for disaster preparedness in remote and vulnerable regions.