A Himalayan disaster and its aftermath
As Himachal recovers from one of its worst disasters in a century, with lingering challenges following devastating rainfall and landslides that claimed over 400 lives, Parveen K Dogra presents a first-hand account from 29 flood-hit locations in Mandi, Kullu, and Shimla districts.
A damaged bridge on Beas river at Seubag area near Manali National Highway. (Photo: Praveen K Dogra) Himachal Pradesh, which recently endured a tumultuous period battling extreme weather situations leading to devastating landslides, widespread damage and collapse of several buildings, is currently basking in bright sunlight. But the chaos of one-way traffic jams, detours, washed-away bridges, and the constant threat of landslides, as well as the absence of tourists, persist. The hill state faced a challenging two months, marked by excessive rainfall in July, followed by two unprecedented spells in August. With over 400 lives lost, this was Himachal’s one of the worst disasters in the past 100 years.
Unprecedented disaster
The three spells of excessive rain wreaked havoc in July and August. Extreme events such as flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, subsidence, and sinking of land devastated lives and property especially in Mandi, Kullu, Manali, Shimla and in some parts of Kangra. As per the government’s assessment, the state suffered a loss of Rs 12,000 crore.
The poor state of Mandi-Shimla NH. ((Photo credit: Parveen K Dogra, Express)
Current estimates indicate 404 people lost their lives, 38 still missing, and 377 injured. Besides, 10,140 livestock perished, and 5,644 cowsheds were destroyed. As many as 2,546 houses and 317 shops have been completely damaged, and 10,853 houses partially damaged leaving a large population to seek alternate places to live.
The rain-induced devastation left hundreds of roads; national highways, damaged. Several stretches of Kiratpur-Manali four-lane from Mandi to Manali and Kalka-Shimla four-lane from Parwanoo to Solan were washed away. The river Beas flowing alongside Kullu to Manali has left deep gorges, boulders and horrifying lumps of landslides.
Besides, several critical buildings and public utilities like schools, colleges and other educational institutes were also damaged. Many hydropower projects and transmission lines were damaged or rendered non-operational.
Natural or man-made disaster?
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Himachal saw two days of vigorous activity on August 14 and 23 when it received extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. Five Western disturbances approached the state during this month.
From July 7 to 10 , active to vigorous monsoon conditions prevailed with very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in most parts of the state. The state received 734.4 mm rainfall (June-September) period against the normal of 223 mm.
The unprecedented rainfall resulted in widespread damage to public and private properties, overflowing of major rivers, blockage of roads, landslides, flashfloods, damage to bridges, and complete disruptions of electrical and communication system, including loss of human lives.
Guman Singh, coordinator of Himalaya Niti Abhiyan — a group working in the Himalayan region — told The Indian Express in Kullu, “From the very first day we are saying this is not a natural disaster but a man-made disaster. The construction work carried out, particularly by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), especially the four-lane highways from Kiratpur to Manali and Kalka to Shimla, has caused huge damage. In both four-lane projects, we saw huge destruction due to these flash floods. They did all kinds of unscientific engineering in this. They think engineering is the solution, we say science and scientific knowledge should be considered.”
NHAI machinery stuck after a landslide on the national highway in Manali. (Photo credit: Parveen K Dogra, Express)
“Engineering solutions have so many other interests as there are government interests, economic interests, several other partners, businessmen, officials and corporate into it. This corrupt nexus has violated the process and has not followed the process in the scientific method to construct the roads. NHAI is the biggest criminal due to which this biggest disaster took place in Himachal.
Guman, who recently appealed to the Prime Minister to declare it a natural disaster, also emphasised the impact of hydroprojects in Himachal. “There should be limits on hydro projects in the state. The Himachal government itself has acknowledged that 21 such projects caused destruction as they disposed of debris into rivers and riverbeds, causing water levels in the Beas and Parvati rivers to rise. Additionally, the dams released water without prior warning, resulting in the complete devastation of the Sainj Valley market in Kullu and the Pandoh area in Mandi due to flooding.”
Role of NHAI and NHPC
Negligence in road widening efforts by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and shortcomings in water and disaster management practices of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) have sparked outrage among experts, activists, and locals in Himachal Pradesh.
The recent calamity saw the complete destruction of the Kiratpur to Manali and Kalka to Shimla National Highways, leaving them vulnerable to further landslides. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder S Sukhu, on August 16, emphasised the necessity of tunnels to alleviate the pressure of vehicular traffic on this route, citing the successful use of tunnels by the British to establish rail links between Kalka and Shimla. He urged NHAI to prioritise tunnel construction despite the associated costs.
The CM also pointed out the erroneous cutting of rocks during highway expansion as a contributing factor to landslides. He highlighted that hills should be cut at angles of 45 degrees, 60 degrees, or similar slopes, rather than the perilous 90-degree angle employed in various locations between Kalka and Shimla.
Several buildings have mushroomed in Manali in the past few years thus burdening the tourist town. (Photo credit: Parveen K Dogra, Express)
Abdul Basit, the regional head of NHAI, visited the Parwanoo-Solan project on August 12, and mentioned that NHAI has 68 tunnel projects, with 11 already completed and the rest under construction. He acknowledged the need for improvements in these projects compared to their predecessors.
Similarly, NHPC faced criticism for releasing excessive water without prior warnings, leading to devastation in Sainj Valley in Kullu, where over 80 houses were swept away. Similar incidents were reported in the Pandoh Dam area in Mandi and the Pong Dam in Kangra.
Himachal Pradesh hosts 75 hydropower projects, each with a capacity of 25 MW or more, with many situated in the most vulnerable districts. Locals in Sainj Valley blamed NHPC’s hydroelectric project for their losses, alleging illegal dumping of project waste near the Parvati River and releasing water without their knowledge, causing a significant rise in the river’s level and extensive damage.
One affected local, Ashok Kumar, expressed frustration with NHPC’s lack of outreach to the affected people, and they are considering legal action to seek compensation and rehabilitation. Senior Geomorphologist OP Bhuraita in Shimla highlighted that the hasty construction of hydropower projects has made earthquake-prone Himachal Pradesh even more susceptible to landslides. He criticised the rush to develop tourism infrastructure, harness power potential, and other infrastructure without adequately assessing environmental and societal impacts and addressing geological and tectonic instability in the region.
Politics of disaster
The political warfare in flood-affected Himachal Pradesh has intensified, with the Congress government, led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, accusing the BJP-led Central government of turning a blind eye to the state’s plight and not showing interest in declaring it a natural disaster. Chief Minister Sukhu, in office for just eight months, highlights the substantial financial challenges, with a previous BJP government leaving a Rs. 75,000 crore loan burden and now a loss exceeding Rs. 12,000 crore due to the disaster. Sukhu is urging the Centre to provide a special package for state infrastructure rebuilding and reconstruction without discrimination.
A damaged petrol pump in Bhuntar area of Kullu. (Photo credit: Parveen K Dogra, Express)
Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, rebuts these claims, emphasising that the state government should focus on requesting additional funds from the Centre rather than placing blame. Thakur acknowledges that the central government has provided significant assistance and intends to further support the state. He argues that the declaration of a natural disaster depends on specific parameters, and the state government’s focus on this may stem from an inability to compensate for the damages.
Regarding Sukhu’s claim of a Rs 75,000 crore loan during Jairam Thakur’s government, the former CM dismisses it as baseless and advises against blaming others. He highlights that the Virbhadra government had left a Rs 50,000 crore loan when he assumed office in 2017, and his administration took a Rs 5,000 crore loan over two years. In contrast, Sukhu’s government has borrowed Rs 8,000 crore in just eight months. Thakur explains that loans are often a necessity but can be managed, emphasising that Himachal can function without excessive borrowing.
Thakur also shares the financial assistance received from the Centre, including 364 crore in the first two installments, followed by 190 crores and an additional 200 crores. Additionally, 6,000 houses under rural housing schemes and an extra 2,700 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) have been granted. He mentions Union Road Minister Nitin Gadkari’s commitment to covering the damages to four-lane roads and bridges within a one-kilometer radius.
However, State PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh expresses dissatisfaction with the assistance received from the Centre, asserting that it falls short of what was expected. Despite the inclusion of centre-sponsored schemes, Singh contends that, given the unprecedented disaster’s impact exceeding Rs 10,000 crore, the state has received only meager sums from the Centre, describing it as an insult to the people of Himachal. He insists that the Centre should allocate at least 10 per cent of the total loss.
The road ahead
In the aftermath of the massive disaster, Chief Minister Sukhu is determined to usher in significant policy reforms and reevaluate development strategies. The government has imposed a temporary ban on tree felling and stone crushing activities in the state.
Regarding policy reforms, Vikramaditya Singh emphasised the need for a well-structured mining policy, emphasising that mining should be conducted scientifically. He stressed the importance of designated excavation sites, avoiding excessive mining in one area, and maintaining a safe distance from rivers. He also pointed out that a complete ban on mining and crushers is not a viable solution, as construction activities must continue in the state.
Guman advocates for a mountain-specific policy framework tailored to the Himalayan region. He underscores the necessity of conservation in Himachal, suggesting a shift away from large, multi-story structures in favor of smaller, environmentally friendly developments.
OP Bhuraita, who authored a paper on climate change titled ‘Sinking Himalayas – A classic example of ignored
warnings, planned destruction, and sidelining people,’ draws attention to the lack of learning from past disasters. He cites a similar catastrophe in 1997 in Jubbal block, Upper Shimla, where over 400 people lost their lives due to flash floods triggered by a cloudburst. Bhuraita asserts that the recent Himachal disaster had the same underlying causes. Despite recommendations made after the 1997 incident, such as not constructing in flood-prone areas, the government proceeded with the Andhra Khad project in the same location, inviting disaster once more.
Guman suggests decentralizing tourism to lesser-explored rural regions within the state, while Bhuraita calls for a slowdown in development speed and a reevaluation of the government’s ‘development paradoxes.’ He argues that the current development model is ill-suited to the mountainous terrain of Himachal Pradesh.
Bhuraita advocates for more careful, landslide-resistant two-lane roads instead of four-lane highways, cautioning against the dangers of rapid access to mountain areas. He highlights the recent prolonged closure of the Kalka-Shimla four-lane road due to landslides, emphasising the need for sustainable and resilient infrastructure in the region.
During the floods of 2023, various hydropower authorities across the Beas Basin were criticised for failing to open floodgates after the initial heavy rain spell from June 20 to 24, this year. Mishandled projects like these can become sources of disaster, as witnessed in Kullu-Mandi, Kangra, and parts of Punjab and Haryana, according to Guman Singh.
He underscores the urgent need to review and activate instruments such as Disaster Management Plans and Early Warning Systems and to update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and dam manuals based on changing hydrology and socioenvironmental factors.
Parveen K Dogra is Senior Assistant Editor at indianexpress.com and is based in New Delhi. Read More
Share
