Manali-Leh Highway restored after flash flood disruption in Lahaul-Spiti
Lahaul-Spiti, June 30
Traffic on the Manali-Leh Highway was restored around midnight near Jahalma Nallah in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district after the Border Roads Organisation completed restoration work, police said on Tuesday.
The highway had been closed after a flash flood struck the Jispa area, while connectivity to several villages was disrupted after the swelling Jhalma Nallah washed away a portion of the road.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, a sudden surge in water flow triggered a flash flood-like situation in Jhalma Nallah, washing away a section of the Manali-Leh Highway and leaving more than 50 tourist vehicles stranded.
The incident was caused by a sudden increase in glacier meltwater, even though no rainfall was reported in the area, officials said.
Lahaul-Spiti Superintendent of Police Shivani Mehla said that over 50 vehicles of tourists were stranded after the road was damaged by the swollen nallah.
She said restoration work on the damaged stretch was underway and was expected to be completed within the next two hours. Once the road was restored, all stranded tourists would be safely evacuated.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), along with the local administration, has been engaged in emergency restoration work, and officials expressed confidence that connectivity would be re-established at the earliest.
The flash flood-like incident occurred on Monday afternoon, disrupting traffic and temporarily cutting off road access in the area. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, while no casualties or injuries have been reported so far.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Stranded tourists must have been terrified! Manali-Leh Highway is not just a road, it's a lifeline for Lahaul-Spiti. Glad no casualties occurred. But we need better early warning systems for such events near glacier-fed streams. Nature is unpredictable, but preparedness can save lives.
This is why I hesitate to plan Leh road trips in June. The weather in Himachal has gone haywire last few years. One moment it's sunny, next moment a flash flood. The BRO team deserves every praise for fixing this in just a few hours. Kudos to SP Shivani Mehla for handling the situation well.
As a tourist who's driven this route, I know how challenging it can be. The BRO's dedication is incredible considering the terrain and weather conditions. Happy to hear everyone was evacuated safely. This highway connects so many remote villages - its restoration impacts lives beyond just tourism.
Glad the situation wasn't worse, but this pattern of glacier melt-induced flash floods is alarming. Our Himalayan ecosystems are fragile. We talk a lot about development, but what about the cost of climate change? Need more investment in resilient infrastructure in such ecologically sensitive zones.
We often take our roads for granted. Imagine the logistical nightmare - over 50 vehicles stranded in a remote area with no connectivity. Hats off to the BRO for working overnight. Next time I drive to Leh, I'll appreciate these engineers even more. Travel safe, everyone! 🚙
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.