Scene not from ‘Pushpa’, but Kullu flashfloods; watch terrifying video of hundreds of logs flowing downstream
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Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only BenefitsTerrifying visuals have emerged from Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, where flash floods triggered by relentless monsoon rains have caused rivers to swell and carry hundreds of wooden logs downstream.
A viral video circulating on social media shows a torrent of water filled with massive logs racing through river channels, a sight eerily reminiscent of scenes from the film Pushpa, but tragically real.
The flash floods, intensified by days of heavy rainfall, led to widespread landslides, uprooting trees and carrying debris from hillsides into rivers.
However, what has shocked many is the sheer volume of timber, much of it believed to be commercially cut, raising concerns about the role of illegal logging and deforestation in exacerbating the crisis.
Authorities are on high alert. Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are working alongside local communities to intercept floating logs using temporary barriers.
The priority is to prevent the timber from damaging dams, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.
“Floodwaters mixed with timber pose a dual threat, they intensify erosion and can clog or damage hydro infrastructure,” said a local official.
Hydropower and irrigation departments have been advised to maintain vigil at dam sites, while villagers downstream are being warned to stay away from riverbanks.
Experts have long warned that deforestation, unregulated tree felling, and poor slope management has made the hill state vulnerable, especially during the rains.