Dharampur Bus Stand Suffers Major Damage, Location Draws Renewed Criticism

Area had faced similar damage during 2015 floods

The Dharampur bus stand in Mandi district sustained significant damage once again following heavy rainfall on Monday night, raising fresh concerns about its long-debated location. This marks the second major incident of destruction, the first occurring in 2015 when floodwaters submerged the facility, causing extensive damage to the Himachal Road Transport Corporation’s (HRTC) buses and infrastructure.

Built at a cost of ₹2.5 crore along the riverbank, the bus stand has faced criticism since its inception. Its location was approved during the tenure of then Public Works Minister Mahender Singh Thakur in the BJP government, who was also representing the Dharampur assembly constituency at the time.

After the 2015 flood, former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh ordered an inquiry into the incident. On August 8, 2015, the Divisional Commissioner of Mandi, Davesh Kumar, was tasked with investigating the circumstances that led to the damage. His report directly held accountable those involved in selecting and approving the site for construction.

Following the recent damage, local residents and political leaders have once again raised concerns over the bus stand’s location. Former District Council member Bhupender Singh reiterated that the site selection was flawed from the outset. He stated, “We had opposed the decision to build the bus stand at this location. Today’s damage is further proof that our concerns were valid. With climate change making weather patterns increasingly unpredictable, such rain-related disasters are likely to occur again. It is time for the government to shift the bus stand to a safer location to ensure the protection of public infrastructure.”

Transport services in the area have been disrupted, and HRTC is currently assessing the extent of damage to its buses.