Six days on, power outages & road blocks grip Kullu district

Six days after the devastating disaster that struck the region, many villages across the district continue to reel under darkness. A total of 323 electricity transformers remain damaged, leaving large portions of the region without power. The worst-hit areas include the Thalout division with 141 transformers affected, followed by Manali 81, Anni 66 and Kullu 35.

Despite continuous rain and difficult terrain, electricity department personnel are working round the clock to restore supply, braving harsh weather conditions and logistical challenges.

The situation is equally grim on the roads, with approximately 175 routes still blocked during the crucial harvesting season. Farmers are facing severe losses as they struggle to transport their produce to market yards. In Nirmand subdivision alone, 67 roads are confirmed blocked, with the status of 17 others still awaited. Banjar subdivision reports 45 closures, while Kullu and Manali have 37 and 26 blocked roads, respectively. Some of these routes have remained inaccessible for over a month due to continuous rainfall and landslides. Major highways are also affected, with the Kullu-Manali National Highway (NH-03) blocked at Bindu Dhank, Raison and near the Vaishno Devi temple. The Kullu-Mandi road and the Aut-Luhri stretch of NH-305 are also obstructed at multiple points, further isolating locals.

Water supply has also taken a major hit, with 39 schemes currently disrupted across the district. Anni circle accounts for 24 of these, while Katrain and Kullu circles report 12 and three, respectively. Authorities have stated that restoration efforts are underway on a war footing, though progress remains slow due to the scale of the damage.

In a small relief, two individuals stranded by flooding in a nullah in Naggar, Manali subdivision, were successfully rescued today. Locals describe the devastation as unprecedented, noting that full recovery will take considerable time. In many areas, residents have pooled resources to hire machinery for road clearance and are actively assisting electricity and Jal Shakti department workers in the repair efforts. The community’s resilience and cooperation have become vital in navigating this prolonged crisis.