Flash Floods Have caused Major destruction in the Kullu Manali Region
The Kiratpur Manali Highway is damaged at many places
Manali Leh Highway closed
Swollen Beas River is Unforgiving
Devastating torrential monsoons have caused widespread flooding across Himachal. No area has been spared, including Una’s plains, the hills of Shimla, Kinnaur, Mandi, and the temperate deserts of Lahaul & Spiti. On Tuesday, flooding intensified in Kullu, with water from the Beas river well above danger levels. Major routes like the National Highway, Kiratpur-Manali, have been washed away near Patli Kuhal. and Raison Road to Naggar is damaged at many places; it will take time to repair it.
People were forced to spend time in the multiple tunnels between Pandoh and Kullu as the highway from Mandi to Kullu has recurring landslides in the region. There was water logging in few tunnels. Tourists and local visitors were stuck around the Rohtang Tunnel as the roads get washed away towards Manali. These people are returning from the Pori fair in Trilokinath Udaipur in Lahul valley. Manali Leh Highway is closed. Residents of Akhara Bazaar are having sleepless nights since the last two days. The rising water level of the furious river Beas is the main reason.
Infrastructure, including roads and homes, dhabas , shops in several areas , suffered significant damage. These rains and the resulting flash floods echo, but exceed, the damage experienced in 2023. Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur has surveyed the destruction and assessed the situation on-site, focusing on bridges, roads, and essential services.
The MLA inspected Akhara Bazaar Valley Bridge, Gamon Bridge, Bhootnath Bridge, Bhuntar Bridge and Old Bhuntar Foot Bridge. He met the local people and assured them that the government and district administration are fully prepared.
Thakur emphasized the rising water levels in the Beas and Parvati rivers and urged residents to remain alert. He assured the public that government assistance efforts are fully activated. He appealed to the people living on the river banks to be alert and safe.
The continuous heavy rainfall in the Kullu district has disrupted the road routes. The movement of heavy vehicles has come to a complete halt due to the closure of the National Highway-03 and the alternative route Kandi-Katola at many places. The administration estimates that restoration may take one to two days.
In view of the situation, Deputy Commissioner Kullu and Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Torul S. Ravish have issued orders. Under this, it has been made mandatory for all petrol pumps in the district to maintain a minimum reserve stock for emergency services till further orders.
According to the prescribed rules, pumps with a capacity of more than 25,000 liters will have to keep at least 5000 liters of diesel and 3000 liters of petrol reserve. Pumps with a capacity of less than 25,000 liters will have to keep at least 3000 liters of diesel and 2000 liters of petrol reserve.
Apart from this, light vehicles (LMV) will get a maximum of 20 liters of fuel at a time and heavy vehicles (HMV) will get up to 100 liters of fuel. Whereas ambulances, fire tenders, vehicles engaged in transportation of essential goods, and road restoration works will be provided fuel as per actual requirement.
Hoarding or black marketing will not be tolerated at any petrol pump. Action will be taken under Section 188, 269, 270 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act-2005 for disobeying the order, which can result in a punishment of up to two years or fine or both.
With increasing landslides, it is becoming difficult even for the adminstration to reach the points where roads are washed off completely. Deputy Commissioner Kullu, Raveesh is leaving no stone unturned to help bring the situation close to noramal as fast it could be done .
The increasing fury of the Beas river in Kullu each year is attributed to persistent illegal mining, encroachment, and insufficient time for repairs before each new monsoon. By the time efforts are made to repair the banks of the river, it is time for the next monsoon.
Ramesh Pathania is a Freelance Journalist with keen interest about issues related to the Environment and Development
