Mandi: Continuous heavy rainfall has brought life to a standstill in Mandi district, forcing the closure of the Mandi-Kullu National Highway-21 near Pandoh. According to police officials, the road has sunk near the Diod stretch, prompting authorities to completely halt traffic movement in order to prevent accidents. The alternate Mandi-Kullu route via Kataila has also been blocked.
With rainfall-induced landslides posing a serious risk, Deputy Commissioner Mandi ordered the closure of all educational institutions in the district for the day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert until the morning of August 25, cautioning residents and tourists to stay away from riverbanks, hilly stretches, and landslide-prone areas.
Several other roads in the region have also been affected. The Slapper-Tatapani, Command-Prashar, and Dharmapur-Jogindranagar routes remain shut, while partial movement has been restored on the Mandi-Bilaspur four-lane, Janjaihli-Karsog, and Sundernagar-Bilaspur roads.
The district administration has urged people to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and contact the District Disaster Management Authority or the Police Control Room in case of emergencies.
