SHIMLA/MANALI:  As the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway between Raison and Manali runs  close to the “fishing line of the Beas River",  it has been suffering extensive damage due to the flash floods in the River since the 1980s. Recent floods in July 9-11  have damaged this stretch as never before, prompting experts and long-time residents of Kullu and Manali to rally behind the idea of realigning the Raison-Manali section and the Manali Bypass to save it from the Beas fury.

Their hopes now rest on Union Road Transport and National Highway Minister, Nitin Gadkari, who is set to visit Kullu and Manali on August 1st, 2023, to inspect the devastation caused by the flash floods that struck the region between July 10th and 12th.

Chief Minster Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and other Ministers and MLAs are likely to meet Gadkari in Kullu to discuss the sad plight of the highways in Himachal Pradesh.  

The Beas River has altered its course, flowing at a higher level than the surrounding Alu Ground, posing a serious threat to the National Highway in the future as well.

The flash floods were a result of the collision of two weather systems - the Southwest Monsoon and another from the Bay of Bengal - over the skies of Himachal Pradesh. These downpours saturated all the water sheds of the Beas River, causing its tributaries like Allian, Duhangan, Sarvari, Parbati, Sainj, and Tirthan to overflow and wreak havoc on the National Highway between Bahang and Manali and Raison, Kullu and Bhuntar, and Aut, Thalot, and Pandoh.

The dumping of debris and the mining in the river added to the fury of the Beas river as it raged its way down from Manali to Kullu,  Bhuntar and Mandi. 

Over 500 houses were either flooded or washed away along the river course and affected people await proper rehabilitation so far.

The impact on Himachal Pradesh has been immense, with losses amounting to a staggering Rs 8000 crores. More than 35 bridges have been destroyed or damaged, and the entire section of the Raison -Manali-Bahang stretch of the National Highway Manali Leh was washed away.

Residents of Kullu and Manali are now advocating for the channelization of the Beas River and realignment of the Raison-Manali section to prevent further devastation.

They point out a major blunder made by the National Highway Authority of India and the state, as the highway was constructed within the fishing point of the Beas River during British rule. The residents and hoteliers were encouraged to build their shops,   hotels and other commercial establishments along the Highway that exposed them to the danger of the rising Beas river. It is wrong,  though easy, to blame projects, tourism  dams for the flash floods without reasons as being done by the certain NGOs.  There is no hydro project uphill of Manali, the trigger point the flash flood,   except 195 MW Allian_Duhangan on the tributaries of the Beas that join the river downstream of Manali.    

The impending visit of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has raised hopes among the locals that he will address these pressing issues.

He is expected to review the progress of the National Highway Project in Himachal Pradesh during his visit, which includes inspecting the damage on August 1st at Kullu-Manali and Pandoh.

Nakul Khullar, the owner of Baragarh Resort and an award of excellence recipient said they had never witnessed such a devastating flood in the Beas River, and the National Highway had never suffered such damage before.

Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhinder Singh Sukhu and his team of Ministers  expedited rescue operations and saved precious human lives.

The residents hope that the Union Minister will work towards a comprehensive solution to protect the highways from future floods and restore normal connectivity in the valley.

As the fate of the doomed highway hangs in the balance, the people of Kullu and Manali hope that  Nitin Gadkari's visit will  address the Highway issues raised by them as Kullu-Manali depend upon arrival of tourists on the Chandigarh-Manali-Leh National Highway which needs to be strengthened.