Hit by uprooted tree, woman, daughter die in Manikaran valley

A woman and her daughter lost their lives after being struck by a massive pine tree that was uprooted by strong winds at Sumaropa in the Manikaran valley on Saturday.

The victims were identified as Avinash Kaur and Nishu Verma, both from Ludhiana in Punjab.

Avinash had visited Manikaran with her husband, Gurbachan Singh, celebrate their anniversary. While en route to Kullu, the family stopped for a brief rest on the banks of the Parvati river near Sumaropa.

During this pause, Avinash and Nishu were enjoying a walk when a nearby pine tree, weakened by the muck of floods, suddenly got uprooted and fell on them. Witnesses recounted screams and cries as chaos ensued, with the area quickly turning grim. Despite a rapid rescue and subsequent rush to hospital, both women succumbed to their injuries.

Following a post-mortem at the Regional Hospital in Kullu, all necessary formalities were finalised for their repatriation to Ludhiana.

This tragedy is not an isolated occurrence in the region. Hollow trees — exacerbated by recent floods and fires — pose a continuing threat to public safety in the religious and tourist-centric Manikaran Valley. Just a few months ago, on March 30, another storm caused a tree to fall near the Manikaran gurdwara, resulting in six fatalities and numerous injuries, damaging several parked vehicles. Locals have voiced strong concerns over the deteriorating condition of many roadside trees, urging authorities to remove or stabilise these hazards promptly.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh said the tree, located close to the river, had become fragile due to accumulated muck. “This is second such incident in Manikaran Valley. We have already initiated surveys of vulnerable trees, and the SDM as well as the forest committee are working to identify and mitigate these risks,” she added.