Kullu-Manali, Lahaul valley remain cut off for 2nd day; over 2K vehicles stranded

The popular tourist destinations of Kullu-Manali and the Lahaul valley remained cut off from the rest of the state for the second consecutive day following extensive damage to the Kiratpur-Manali highway and the Manali-Leh highway.

The situation has paralysed transportation and severely impacted thousands of residents, tourists and farmers across the region.

According to Varun Chari, Project Director of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane project, multiple stretches of the Kiratpur-Manali highway, particularly between Mandi and Manali, have been washed away due to recent torrential rain and flashfloods. In few areas, large portions of the road have been completely destroyed, presenting a daunting challenge to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) as it scrambles to begin the restoration work.

Chari told The Tribune that as the weather improved in the region today, the NHAI had deployed its workforce and machinery at multiple locations to restore traffic on the highway. Due to massive damage to the project, it would take time to restore connectivity between Mandi and Manali.

Simultaneously, the Manali-Leh highway — a vital link to the Lahaul-Spiti and Leh-Ladakh region — has also been rendered impassable since yesterday, with significant damage reported beyond Manali towards Keylong.

Authorities confirm that a large number of travellers and residents have been stranded in areas including Lahaul, Kullu-Manali and Mandi due to the dual highway blockades. An estimated 2,000 vehicles are currently stuck at various points across these regions.

The Beas river, swollen due to heavy rain, unleashed destruction in Kullu-Manali on Monday, damaging multiple houses, shops and bridges. Many buildings are now dangerously close to collapsing, raising fears of further destruction if the weather worsens again.

The crisis has also delivered a heavy blow to the region’s horticulture and agriculture sectors. With the apple harvest at its peak, local apple growers in Kullu-Manali are now grappling with massive losses as transportation routes are completely severed. Without access to markets, the timely movement of produce remains impossible, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on horticulture.

“The timing could not have been worse,” said a local apple farmer. “The apples are ready for harvest, but we have no way to send those out. If the situation does not improve quickly, we could lose the entire crop.”

Telecommunication services are badly disrupted in Lahaul and Spiti, Manali and Banjar.

On a positive note, weather conditions improved today, raising hopes for quicker restoration efforts. With clear skies in Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti, authorities expect to intensify road clearing and repair operations in the worst-hit areas in the coming days.