Vanishing villages: Migration rises amid fear of calamities

The once-thriving high-altitude villages of Himachal Pradesh are now falling silent. Following recent cloudbursts, flash floods and devastating landslides, large-scale migration from the upper reaches of Kangra, Mandi and adjoining districts has begun, creating fresh challenges for the state government. What were once ancestral homes are now being abandoned, their doors locked and courtyards over

grown — stark reminders of fear and uncertainty.

In the past three months, natural disasters have wreaked havoc across rural Himachal, leaving behind damaged roads, collapsed bridges and broken water supply schemes. Many villages, particularly in Chhota Bhangal and Chuhar Valley, have even been declared unsafe due to continuous sinking of hills caused by soil erosion. Meanwhile, the government’s failure to restore infrastructure has deepened the sense of insecurity among residents.

The younger generation, employed in cities within and outside the state, is increasingly reluctant to return to their native villages, worried that recurring disasters during monsoons will only escalate. Families that once lived in the higher reaches are now moving permanently to safer locations such as Palampur, Baijnath, Joginder Nagar, Gopalpur, Bhawarna and Paprola.

Experts point to deeper reasons for this exodus. “Environmental degradation, unchecked mining, over-tourism and reckless felling of trees have worsened the already fragile ecosystem,” say environmentalists. The young Himalayan ranges, still geologically unstable, are ill-equipped to withstand the relentless exploitation of natural resources. In regions like Seraj and Dharmapur, massive landslides and flash floods have not only destroyed livelihoods but reshaped entire landscapes.

The human cost is profound. For villagers, migration is not just about leaving behind land but also their cultural roots, traditions and centuries of mountain life. Yet, without basic facilities such as reliable healthcare, schools, electricity and road connectivity, staying back has become untenable.

To stem this silent exodus, experts urge the government to chart out a comprehensive plan. This includes rebuilding a strong road network, ensuring uninterrupted medical and education facilities, and strengthening emergency healthcare at the panchayat level. Livelihood opportunities must be created locally so that families can sustain themselves without leaving their villages. Above all, the government must act decisively against illegal mining, reckless deforestation and unregulated construction.

Unless immediate steps are taken, Himachal’s picturesque villages risk becoming ghost settlements — casualties of both nature’s fury and human neglect.