Lagatar24 Desk
Manali: Heavy floods triggered by the overflowing Beas river have caused widespread damage in Himachal Pradesh, washing away large stretches of the Chandigarh-Manali highway and blocking the Manali-Leh road. The situation has led to traffic chaos, destruction of property, and closure of schools across several districts.
Highway Damage and Diversions
Floodwaters washed away the highway stretch at Bindu Dhank near Manali and damaged another section at Raison, where traffic has now been diverted through a link road on the river’s left bank. The Manali-Leh highway was also blocked after the Beas river swept away part of the road at Vashisht Chowk. Floodwaters entered the Green Tax Barrier and Alu Ground near Manali late Monday night, forcing the evacuation of shops and houses. A restaurant near Manali was also washed away, and Dev Lok, a popular tourist site near 15 Mile, was inundated.
Tourism and Commuter Impact
The flooding has hit hotels and restaurants near the river badly, disrupting tourism activity in the peak season. With the Chandigarh-Manali highway blocked at multiple points near Pandoh in Mandi, many commuters spent nights in their vehicles or inside highway tunnels. The alternative Mandi-Kamand-Kataula-Bajaura-Kullu link road also remains blocked, worsening the crisis for travelers.
Red Alert and School Closures
Authorities have issued a red alert across multiple districts including Kullu, Mandi, Kangra, Una, Shimla, and Bilaspur. As a precaution, all educational institutions in these districts remain closed. Former Manali MLA Govind Singh Thakur visited the affected areas on Tuesday morning to assess the situation.
