Road link snapped, ropeway lone lifeline for Balichowki villages

Around 20 gram panchayats in the Balichowki area of the Seraj Assembly constituency in Mandi district were cut off from the rest of the state following the collapse of the Kuklah bridge on June 30, disrupting mobility. The bridge and its adjoining road were damaged on the night of June 30 in flashfloods triggered by heavy rain.

The situation became critical when the Kuklah rivulet, swollen due to torrential rain and damage to the Patikri hydroelectric power project, swept away the bridge. The flashfloods not only destroyed a major section of the road but also partially affected a few houses located nearby, leaving several villages isolated and struggling for access to basic services.

In the absence of road connectivity, locals have become dependent on a ropeway, initially set up for tourism between Pandoh and the Baglamukhi temple, for travel and transport goods. Though originally intended for tourists, the ropeway has become a lifeline of the residents of the affected panchayats.

Duni Chand, a local resident, shared the hardships faced by the community. “The damage to the Kuklah road bridge has left several villages cut off. We are now using the ropeway to travel, but it is not a sustainable or safe long term solution,” he added.

Gurdev Singh, pradhan of Kashaud panchayat, emphasised the scale of the crisis: “Panchayats such as Bhatkidhar, Khablech, Baga-Chanogi, Kuklah, Kashaud, Nalvagi, Kalhani, Sarachi, Shilibagi and others are all disconnected. Immediate action is needed to restore the bridge and road connectivity to restore normal life to these areas.”

The local authorities are yet to announce a timeline for the restoration of road connectivity, though the assessment work is underway. Local residents have urged the government to prioritise the reconstruction of the Kuklah bridge to re-establish crucial connectivity for the affected region.