MANDI/LAHAUL-SPITI, July 6 — A sudden cloudburst late Saturday night struck Swad village in the remote Shilabudhani panchayat of Mandi district’s Padhar subdivision, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and agricultural land, officials said. Though no casualties were reported, the incident triggered panic among residents, many of whom remained awake through the night fearing further destruction.
Padhar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Surjeet Thakur confirmed that damage assessment is underway. “There is no report of any casualties so far. However, a detailed report on infrastructure and agricultural loss is being prepared,” he stated.
Among the villagers affected is Maan Singh Paglani, a fish farm owner whose water supply system was severely damaged. “Without a continuous water supply, the survival of the fish stock is at serious risk,” Paglani said, expressing concern about the potential loss of his entire aquatic stock.
Swad and its surrounding areas have a history of vulnerability to extreme weather events. A cloudburst in the same region in 1993 left 16 people dead, making this weekend’s incident a chilling reminder of past disasters.
Meanwhile, in Lahaul and Spiti’s Salpat village under the Udaipur subdivision, rising water levels in the Chenab River triggered significant land erosion Saturday night, endangering agricultural holdings and the livelihood of several families.
According to the Village Revenue Officer, multiple landowners—including Ramnath, Ramkishan, Jagatram, Vijesh, Ajeet Singh, Nihaal Singh, and Sohan Singh—have reported damage to their farmlands.
Officials said the extent of crop loss is still being evaluated. “Once the final report is submitted, appropriate assistance will be extended to the affected families,” a district official assured.
The twin incidents underscore the growing environmental fragility of the Himachal region, where unpredictable weather patterns continue to pose severe risks to life, livelihood, and land.
