Bridge, mule path washed away, grain crisis looms over Bara Bhangal valley

Kangra’s Bara Bhangal valley — 80 km from Palampur — was cut off from the rest of the region following Monday’s bridge collapse. In the absence of connectivity, the threat of a food grain crises looms over the valley, if action to reconstruct the bridge is not initiated.

According to area residents, portions of the mule path leading to the valley had washed away following heavy rain and flash floods in the last three days. Food grains are sent to the valley between June 15 and August 31 every year through the 60-km mule path.

Following the collapse of the bridge, food grain supply to Bara Bhangal is likely to be affected. Speaking to The Tribune, Baijnath SDM Sankalp Gautam said the district administration was well aware of the situation, and efforts were being made to reconstruct the bridge and restore the mule path before the end of September, as Thamsar Pass — the highest peak to the way to the valley — would have been closed by then due to snowfall.

A team of officials had been sent to the valley, he added, claiming that Bara Bhangal had an adequate stock of food grains. The Bara Bhangal Panchayat Pradhan said, owing to heavy rain and snowfall, travel from the valley to Bir and Multhan had been disrupted. Villagers were awaiting the restoration of the bridge and path, he added, stating that, if timely action was not taken, over 600 persons living in the valley would face food grain shortage. He said he had apprised the Baijnath SDM of the situation.