Infra damaged in 2023 flashflood yet to be fully restored in Kullu

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, July 29

It has been over a year since flashfloods hit Kullu left behind a trail of devastation but the administration has failed to take remedial measures at various vulnerable locations in the district. The damaged infrastructure, especially roads, is yet to be restored.

Roads not Restored

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• Residents of several villages have approached the district administration demanding adequate measures for the protection of their properties from any natural disaster in future.
• People living in areas falling in the Parvati and Sainj valleys have voiced their concerns and demanded recarpeting of damaged roads.

Sanjay, a resident of Parla Bhuntar, says that ever since the embankment of the Beas was eroded, no protection measures had been taken. Rakesh, a resident of Jia village, says, “If another flood-like situation is created in Kullu again, it can wreak havoc in the district. Last year, a footbridge leading to our village was washed away in the rain disaster. The administration has not built another one for us.”

The residents of several villages have approached the district administration demanding adequate measures for the protection of their properties from any natural disaster in future. People living in areas falling in the Parvati and Sainj valleys have voiced their concerns and demanded recarpeting of the damaged roads. Since the roads have not been fully restored, buses are not plying on some routes. As a result, locals are facing numerous problems due to the apathy of the administration.

Anoop , a resident of Parla Bhuntar, says that the post-flood condition of a road to Hathithan was extremely poor. He alleges, “The Chief Minister had claimed that Rs 4,500 crore was supposed to be spent as part of a special relief package, but nothing much has been done to restore the damaged infrastructure in Kullu. The district had witnessed major losses during the 2023 floods, but how much has been spent in the district is not known as mostly temporary steps or stop-gap arrangements have been made for the damaged infrastructure.” He alleges that footbridges in many villages had been washed away and temporary ropeway spans installed.

Akshay, a resident of Manali, says many portions on the Kullu-Manali national highway (NH-03) had caved in during the floods, but the these stretches were yet to be restored completely. He said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was not making enough efforts for the complete restoration of the NH-03.

The authorities concerned have claimed that around Rs 28 crore was disbursed as relief to the flood-affected people in Kullu last year.