Road and phone connectivity hit in Manali after heavy rain triggers flooding and landslides
Meanwhile, the Kullu district administration has directed petrol pumps to maintain an emergency fuel reserve.
4 min read
According to the district administration, road restoration can take one to two days, subject to weather conditions. (Express photo)
Floods and landslides brought by torrential rains in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali subdivision, a tourist destination, disrupted road access, mobile phone and internet connections, and electricity supply, officials said Wednesday.
National Highway 3, Manali’s main lifeline, along with the alternative Kandi–Katola route, remains blocked at multiple locations owing to landslides and debris flow. As a result, the movement of heavy vehicles has come to a complete standstill.
According to the district administration, road restoration can take one to two days, subject to weather conditions.
Residents also said it may take around 10 days for the administration to restore full connectivity — road and telecom — provided the weather remains clear, the water level in the Beas river recedes, and restoration work continues on a war footing.
Babloo Sharma, a former executive president of the Manali Hotel Association, said over the phone, “Right now, I am in Gurgaon on a business assignment. I have not been able to contact my wife and children back in Manali since 4 pm yesterday. Their cell phones are either out of reach or switched off. Even internet connections are down. I managed to ascertain their well-being through some relatives living in Kullu.”
Sudershan Sood, a shopkeeper at Old Manali Bazaar, said he came to Kullu to buy supplies for his shop but has been stuck here for the last two days.
“Although the alternative Left-Bank road, which is diverted near Raison village between Kullu and Manali, was opened for motorists, I avoided it due to severe weather conditions. Today, the weather is clear. So I have decided to proceed towards Manali from Kullu. To reach the Left-Bank road from Raison, one has to cross a bridge over the overflowing Beas River,” Sood said.
Fuel rationing in Kullu
Meanwhile, amid the large-scale devastation caused by the rain, Torul S Raveesh, Deputy Commissioner. Kullu, and Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), issued strict orders mandating all petrol pumps to maintain a minimum reserve stock of fuel for emergency services until further notice.
As per the orders, fuel stations with a storage capacity above 25,000 litres must keep at least 5,000 litres of diesel and 3,000 litres of petrol as a reserve stock, while those with a smaller capacity (below 25,000 litres) are required to maintain a minimum stock of 3,000 litres of diesel and 2,000 litres of petrol.
To prevent hoarding and ensure fair distribution, the administration has also imposed strict rationing: light motor vehicles will be allowed a maximum of 20 litres per refill, while heavy motor vehicles will get 100 litre. However, ambulances, fire tenders, vehicles carrying essential goods, and machinery involved in road clearance operations will be provided with fuel based on their actual requirements.
The administration has warned against hoarding and black marketing of essential items, stating that violations will attract strict action under various provisions of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita and Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act 2005. These provisions carry penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. “The orders will remain in force until further notice,” a senior official said.
Anil Dhiman, a local administrative officer, added, “The Weather in Kullu is almost clear today, though it remains cloudy in Manali.”
This directive comes as Kullu-Manali reels under one of the worst spells of monsoon disruption this season, leaving tourists stranded, local transport paralysed, and essential services crippled.
You May Like
