Torrential rain wreaks havoc in Mandi district

Intermittent heavy rain continuing over the past 36 hours has caused massive damage in the district, partially disrupting traffic, telecommunication and power supply in several parts of the district.Rain wrecked havoc in the Uttarshl Valley on Mandi-Prashar road where the water level in Baggi rivulet in Saigali Panchayat rose abnormally high due to heavy rain in the catchment area. Rocks and boulders of the flooded nullah fell on the houses and market of Baggi damaging several houses and the main market. However, no loss of life was reported. Flood water gushed into the houses and shops of the main bazar

Traffic on many link roads in the district has been disrupted due to landslides affecting milk supply to Mandi town and the Chhakar Dairy Plant.  The condition of the Chandigarh – Manali  national highway and Amritsar Manali national highway has further worsened  as the NHAI started the repair and tarring of the roads very late when the monsoon struck the hill  state. 

This weather badly hit the tourists traffic of foreigners who go to leh and ladhakh in the months of July-August.Himachal Pradesh witnessed the worst tourists season this year when not only the hoteliers but also small traders, tea-stall owners and Dhabas of Mandi, Kulu and Manali bore the brunt of imprudent and dictatorial directions of the NGT which levied high charges on vehicle going to Rohtang Pass, the only attraction in  the panoramic valley and removing Dhabas on way  to the Rohtang Pass followed by the wrath of the weather gods which damaged the life lines of the hill state. 

The Public works and the NHAI also cut a sorry figure by their gross failure to maintain the roads fractured by big potholes frequent landslides in the fragile from the mountain hills.