Flashflood in Anjani Mahadev nullah triggers panic in Manali

A sudden flashflood in the Anjani Mahadev nullah plunged the peaceful hill town of Manali into chaos around 11 am today. Following intense rainfall in the upper reaches, a surge of muddy, debris-filled water thundered down the seasonal stream, rapidly turning it into a destructive torrent. As the floodwaters merged with the Beas downstream, the usually serene flow turned into a deep, swirling brown.

The flood caught residents and visitors off guard. Within minutes, the narrow nullah had swollen uncontrollably, sweeping along silt, rocks and forest debris. Panic gripped the nearby Bahang area as the current raged. Eyewitnesses recalled hearing a thunderous roar just moments before the flood struck. “There was a deafening sound and then the water came crashing down, full of mud and debris,” said Ramesh, a local shopkeeper.

The Manali administration swung into action quickly. SDM Raman Kumar Sharma rushed to the site and assessed the situation firsthand. He immediately issued alerts to residents living along the riverbanks and low-lying areas. Fortunately, there were no reports of loss of life or property, though fear and uncertainty gripped locals until the water levels began to recede by late afternoon.

For the past three days, intermittent rain has been lashing Manali, saturating the region’s already fragile slopes. While the sun finally broke through the clouds on Wednesday evening, the threat remains far from over.

This is not an isolated event. On July 25 last year, a similar flashflood from the same nullah had blocked the road near Palchan, stranding dozens of vehicles and temporarily cutting off access to Solang and the Atal Tunnel.

Officials have warned that rivers and nullahs are rising unpredictably during the monsoon. The SDM urged people to keep a safe distance from riverbanks and mountain streams.

Today’s flashflood serves as a stark reminder of the monsoon hazards faced by Himalayan towns like Manali. While nature’s fury was merciful this time, the incident has reignited calls for stronger early warning systems and improved disaster preparedness as the monsoon deepens.