Mandi-Kullu parched: Rainfall knocks out 152 water schemes

A major water crisis has gripped Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi and Kullu districts as relentless rainfall has rendered 152 water supply schemes non-functional over the past two days. The disruption has severely affected the daily lives of thousands of residents, with restoration efforts underway.

In Mandi district alone, 64 water supply schemes have been damaged or shut down, leaving several towns and villages without potable water. The worst-affected areas include Karsog division with 17 disrupted schemes, followed by Thunag (16), Padhar (10), Mandi (9), Sundernagar (5), Dharampur (4) and Baggi (3).

The crisis is particularly acute in the Mandi Municipal Corporation area, where the main water supply from the Uhl river has been disrupted since yesterday. The high silt content in the river, a result of continuous heavy rainfall, has hampered water treatment operations and posed a major challenge for the Jal Shakti Department.

Raj Kumar Saini, Superintendent Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department in Mandi, said the department is working around the clock to resolve the issue. “Due to the high silt content in the Uhl river, the main water source for Mandi town, we are unable to resume the water supply. Moreover, there has been structural damage at some points of the Uhl water supply scheme,” said Saini. He added that the department has deployed an adequate workforce to restore services and expressed hope that supply would resume within two days, provided the weather conditions remain favourable.

The situation in Kullu district is even more alarming, with 88 water supply schemes currently non-functional. The breakdown is most severe in Ani division, which has seen 43 schemes disrupted. Larji reported 21 affected schemes, Kullu 18 and Katrain 6.

Authorities in both districts are making urgent efforts to repair the damaged infrastructure. The Jal Shakti Department teams are navigating difficult terrain and adverse weather to bring back essential water services to the affected areas.

With more rain forecast in the coming days, the situation remains tense. The district administrations have urged residents to use water judiciously and remain patient as restoration work continues across the region.

Residents are advised to stay updated through official announcements and take necessary precautions to store clean water until services resume.