The Seraj region in Himachal Pradesh faced a devastating tragedy on June 30, 2025, similar to Dharali in Uttarakhand.
Heavy rains led to massive floods and landslides, affecting over 50,000 people and destroying homes, livestock, and infrastructure.
The disaster left seven dead, 21 missing, and hundreds homeless, with significant damage to roads, bridges, and public utilities.
The Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA) has released an assessment of the damage caused by heavy rains in Seraj assembly constituency of the state’s Mandi district on the night of June 30, 2025.
All small drains and watercourses in the area were flooded due to heavy rains in Bakhali Nal valley. This caused a massive landslide in the valley, according to HNA.
It was raining heavily since June 29 in the 35-40 km radius of this valley, from Magrugala to Bakhli, Pandoh Dam. Due to this, floods and landslides affected the 50,000 population in the entire valley.
HNA’s estimate is based on information gleaned from visits to the area and discussions with local people. The Himachal Pradesh government is yet to release data on the damage caused by the disaster.
About two dozen villages in the Seraj valley were affected by massive floods and landslides. These mainly include Railchowk, Bhalwad, Baod, Keulinal, Pandav Shila, Rushad, Jarol, Lambathach, Thanadi, Thunag, Daisy, Lamaon, Deol, Khunagi, Sharan, Surah, Patikri.
Seven people died due to the devastation in Seraj while 21 are missing, according to HNA estimates. Fifty people are injured. More than 300 livestock animals have also been killed.
About 622 houses and 350 cowsheds/shelters have been completely destroyed while 150 houses have been partially damaged. Thousands of bighas of agricultural land and apple orchards of farmers have been destroyed, as have been many polyhouses, used for growing flowers.
Thunag Bazar, where around 150 shops and commercial establishments suffered heavy damage, was the worst hit. Of the 150 shops, around 60 were washed away and completely damaged, while 40 were destroyed due to debris. Banks, government buildings and offices of lawyers were also damaged due to water and debris.
Some 120 shopkeepers are unemployed. Heaps of debris and mud are piled up from the bus stand to the old tehsil building. The business has come to a standstill due to the slow cleaning process. Some traders are repairing old shops, and some are rebuilding new ones.
Shops in Janjehli, Bagsiad and other places also suffered heavy damage.
Traffic on the Chail-Janjehli, Lambathach-Kalhani-Pandoh and Lambathach-Chiuni-Shaitadhar roads came to a standstill for several days due to landslides. The Janjehli-Gadagusani road was also badly damaged, and all roads are still closed for movement of big vehicles. Many bridges have been washed away. According to the assessment report, there has been extensive damage to the roads and culverts of the villages which has made it difficult for the people to walk. Schools and other public buildings have also been damaged at many places.
The assessment report said the lift water supply project ‘Chhari Khad-Shaitadhar’, which supplies water to 25 panchayats, has been damaged. This has led to a drinking water crisis in all 25 panchayats. A lot of drinking water schemes in other villages have also been damaged. More than a dozen affected villages are still without electricity even as power supply remained disrupted across the valley for several days after the incident.
According to the report, about 400 families have been rendered homeless. About 200 people are still living in relief camps, while some are staying at their relatives’ houses. The fields and gardens along the river are stacked with rocks, while the fields and gardens on the slopes are not visible, with only rocks seen.
This calamity has left deep economic and emotional scars on the people.
Some 40-50 years ago, there were only 20-25 homesteads in Thunag village. In the last few years, roads have been built in every village, along with a Panchayati Raj Training Centre, SDM office, mini secretariat, court, bus stand, divisional office of Jal Shakti department, horticulture college, etc.
Many government institutions and office buildings were built on drains and watercourses. In this way, all the nearby drains were encroached upon. Thunag has been flooded three or four times in the past and this time, the water regained its way.
According to estimates, private and government properties worth about Rs 500 crore have been damaged in the entire city. The assessment report also said landslides have occurred on a large scale in hundreds of hectares of forest land in the forests from Magru Gala, Raigad, Shikari Mata to Pakhrer Bagsiad Gohar and on the other hand from Tugasi to Bakhali via Kalhani. Thousands of trees have been destroyed, the land, along the drains, has been washed away and trees and plants have been destroyed. The report said that the forest department should assess the damage.