A day after BJP leader Jairam Thakur criticized MP Kangana Ranaut for not being present in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, during the recent floods, the actor-turned-politician fired back, blaming the former chief minister and opposition leader for staying away from the area.

Mandi has been hit hard by a series of cloudbursts, causing landslides and flash floods that have left 14 people dead and 31 missing so far. The worst-affected area is the Thunag subdivision, where major restoration efforts are underway. Jairam Thakur, the MLA from nearby Seraj, has been actively involved in relief work as his constituency also faced heavy damage.

Thakur had campaigned for Ranaut ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, making his criticism of her absence more pointed.

Facing backlash after expressing her condolences for the flood victims, Kangana took to social media (X) on Friday to clarify her absence. She said she had been advised by Jairam Thakur to wait before visiting the affected areas due to ongoing connectivity issues. “It is heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now. I tried reaching flood-affected areas in Seraj and other parts of Mandi but was advised by respected leader of opposition Shri @jairamthakurbjp ji to wait until connectivity is restored. A red alert has been issued by the Mandi DC today as well. I’m awaiting official approval and will visit as soon as possible,” she wrote.

The day before, when asked about Kangana’s absence, Thakur had said, “I don’t know why she (Kangana) did this. We are here, living and working with the people of Mandi. I don’t want to comment on those who are not concerned about it.”

The Congress party quickly shared Thakur’s remarks on social media, criticizing Kangana for being “missing” during a terrible tragedy affecting her own constituency.

Since the monsoon began on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has recorded 69 deaths and 110 injuries due to floods and landslides. On July 3 alone, the state saw 22 moderate-intensity landslides, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by the region.