Water woes wash away in Mandi city

After four days of severe water crisis, residents of Mandi city finally breathed a sigh of relief as water supply was restored today. The disruption, caused by massive landslides at multiple points along the water supply route from the Uhl river to Mandi city, had severely affected thousands of households within the Mandi Municipal Corporation limits.

The landslides, triggered by continuous support rainfall in the region, had damaged the main pipelines, leading to complete suspension of regular water supply since Sunday. With taps running dry, residents were forced to arrange water through private tankers or rely on limited supply from the Jal Shakti Department and Mandi Municipal Corporation, which deployed water tankers to affected areas.

Speaking to The Tribune, officials from the Jal Shakti Department confirmed that water supply had been successfully restored by today afternoon. “Our teams have worked round-the-clock in difficult terrain and weather conditions to repair the damaged pipelines and restore the flow from the Uhl river. However, the situation remains fragile due to the ongoing threat of landslides,” said Rohit Gupta, an official from the department.

While the restoration brings temporary relief, authorities have cautioned that continued water supply will depend on weather conditions in the coming days. The entire water supply infrastructure remains vulnerable, especially in high-risk landslide-prone zones, which could cause fresh disruptions if the rainfall continues.

Residents expressed both relief and frustration, pointing out that such disruptions have become more frequent in recent years. “We were completely dependent on private water tankers, which are not affordable for everyone. The government must look for long-term solutions to strengthen the water infrastructure,” said, a local resident.

The Jal Shakti Department has urged citizens to use water judiciously and store water whenever available, as a precaution against any future disruptions. Efforts are also underway to explore alternate water sources and strengthen the current supply lines to withstand the increasing challenges posed by erratic weather and natural calamities.

With monsoon still active in Himachal Pradesh, authorities remain on high alert and continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent any further crisis.