Thunag in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district is going through a major water crisis after recent cloudbursts and floods destroyed water supply systems. The heavy rains damaged pipelines, machines, and electricity transformers that were being used to supply clean drinking water to villages.

Jal Shakti Department’s Chief Engineer Anju Sharma visited the affected area to see the damage. She told ANI, “All 81 panchayats in this constituency have been affected. Our people are tracing the sources... We collected all the staff, as it is very difficult to reach from one place to another.”

She further explained that, “The pipes have been arranged, but it is difficult to reach... We have gone back a lot for permanent restoration. The big schemes have suffered a huge setback. Our transformers and machinery have been washed away, and tracing them is a huge challenge for the department, and trying to do it on a war level. I want to appeal to the people to support the department and use the water from storage or hand pumps and drink only after boiling it.”

Mandi worst affected as roads and power lines break

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours has badly hit basic services across the state. Mandi has been the worst affected district, with 200 roads blocked. A total of 278 water supply schemes have stopped working, and 236 transformers have been damaged in Mandi alone.

The Kullu district is also affected. In areas like Banjar and Nirmand, 39 roads have been blocked due to landslides. In Chamba district, 32 roads are blocked, and 17 transformers have been damaged in subdivisions like Salooni, Dalhousie, and Bharmour.

“The heavy monsoon showers have triggered landslides, waterlogging, and infrastructure damage, disrupting road connectivity and essential services across multiple districts,” the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said.

Authorities on alert, public asked to stay safe

The SDMA said that restoration work is going on and field teams are active in the most affected areas like Mandi and Kullu. Meanwhile, areas like Shimla, Solan, and Lahaul and Spiti saw little to no damage.

The public has been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in areas prone to landslides. The Public Works, Electricity, and Jal Shakti departments are working together to repair the damage and restore normal services as soon as possible.

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