Disaster in Manali: Heavy Rain and Cloudburst Leave Tourists Trapped, Riverbanks Overflow

National News: Himachal Pradesh has been witnessing heavy rainfall for several days, and on this morning, Manali faced massive destruction. A cloudburst near Dhundi and Anjani Mahadev led to a sudden rise in the Beas River, causing flash floods that placed hundreds of hotels and buildings in danger.

Roads Washed Away, Tourists Stranded

The flood swept away large portions of the four-lane road and the national highway, cutting off all routes to and from Manali. Thousands of tourists are still stranded in the town. Hotels close to the riverbanks have been evacuated, while others continue to house stranded visitors.

Popular Restaurant Destroyed

In Bahang, Manali’s well-known "Sher-e-Punjab" restaurant was completely swept away by the flood, with only its entrance gate left standing. Along with it, four nearby shops were also destroyed in the floods.

Heavy Snowfall in Lahaul-Spiti

In the Lahaul-Spiti region, heavy snowfall blocked mountain passes, including Shinkula and Baralacha. Over a foot of snow has fallen, blocking the roads and leaving both tourists and locals stranded in the region.

Bus Stand and Market at Risk

The Volvo bus stand in Manali, which usually accommodates hundreds of tourist buses, was also affected. Authorities managed to shift some buses to safer areas. Meanwhile, floodwater entered the vegetable market at Aloo Ground, damaging the foundation of the mandi building, which is now at risk of collapse.

Rising River Level, Officials on Alert

Manali DSP KD Sharma confirmed that the Kullu-Manali national highway is closed at several places, though traffic on the left bank road is still moving. He urged locals and tourists not to travel until the situation improves, warning that the water level of the Beas River is still rising.