Life impacted in Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti

Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 11

The rains have severely impacted normal life in Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts today, causing widespread disruptions.

In Mandi district, heavy rainfall left 96 roads blocked due to landslides, affecting daily activities. By evening, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Public Works Department (PWD) had managed to restore 53 of these roads, although 43 remain blocked.

The Chandigarh-Manali highway was blocked at the 9 Mile mark but has been reopened. The Mandi-Dharampur and the Mandi-Pathankot national highways also faced temporary closures but are now open for traffic. The district’s roads, particularly in Dharampur and surrounding subdivisions, were severely affected, with 17 roads blocked in Dharampur alone.

The heavy rains also led to substantial power disruptions in rural areas of Mandi district. Of the 495 electricity transformers that were affected, 399 have been restored by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, leaving 96 still inoperative.

The torrential rains caused damage to infrastructure with four houses and two cowsheds having been destroyed. Specific locations affected are Randhara village, where a cowshed belonging to Fateh Chand was damaged, and various other villages where houses were either partially or completely destroyed.

In Kullu district, 37 roads were initially blocked, with only nine restored by the evening. The majority of the blocked roads are rural, impacting areas in Nirmand, Banjar and Kullu subdivisions. Power and water supplies were also disrupted, with 21 transformers and 25 water supply schemes affected in various divisions. Restoration efforts are going on.

Lahaul and Spiti district faced challenges, with the SKTT road near Kadunala blocked following a landslide. This road is crucial for connecting Lahaul Valley with Pangi in Chamba district. The Border Roads Organisation is working to clear the debris and reopen the road. The district administration has issued an advisory urging residents and visitors to stay away from river bodies due to the risk of flooding.

Authorities across the affected districts are working tirelessly to restore normalcy.