A cloudburst hit the remote Kortang village in the Padhar subdivision of Mandi district late last night, causing damage to infrastructure and farmland. The sudden downpour led to massive soil erosion, and a few houses in the area are now under threat. Though no lives were lost, villagers spent a sleepless night, worried about further damage.
Surjeet Thakur, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Padhar, confirmed that no casualties have been reported. A team from the local administration is now assessing the damage to property and agricultural land.
Among those affected is Maan Singh Paglani, who runs a fish farm in the area. He said the cloudburst damaged the water supply pipes, putting the survival of his fish at risk. “Without water, my entire fish stock could die,” he said.
This region has a history of such disasters — a cloudburst in 1993 had killed 16 people in the same area, highlighting its vulnerability to extreme weather.
Meanwhile, in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, land erosion was reported in Salpat village (Udaipur subdivision) due to rising water levels in the Chenab river. Local farmers are facing damage to their agricultural lands.
The Village Revenue Officer (VRO) reported erosion-related damage to land owned by Ramnath, Ramkishan, Jagatram, Vijesh, Ajeet Singh, and Himanshu. Officials are now assessing the extent of crop loss.
Authorities have promised that help will be provided to the affected families after a full report is prepared.
Both these incidents show how changing weather patterns and rising river levels are becoming serious challenges in Himachal Pradesh. They also highlight the urgent need for better disaster preparedness in remote and hilly areas of the state.
Be the first to comment