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Kullu-Manali and Lahaul Valley Remain Cut Off for Second Day; Over 2,000 Vehicles Stranded
Shimla, Updated At : 09:23 AM Aug 28, 2025 IST
Tourist hotspots Kullu-Manali and the Lahaul Valley remained cut off from the rest of Himachal Pradesh for the second consecutive day after severe damage to the Kiratpur–Manali highway and the Manali–Leh highway.
The disruption has brought transport to a standstill, severely affecting thousands of residents, tourists, and farmers across the region.
According to Varun Chari, Project Director of the Kiratpur–Manali four-lane project, recent torrential rains and flash floods have washed away several portions of the highway, particularly between Mandi and Manali. In some stretches, entire sections of the road have collapsed, posing a major challenge for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to even begin restoration work.
Chari told The Tribune that with an improvement in weather conditions today, NHAI has deployed personnel and machinery at several critical points to begin efforts to restore traffic. However, given the extent of the damage, reconnecting Mandi with Manali will take considerable time.
Meanwhile, the Manali–Leh highway – a crucial lifeline linking Lahaul-Spiti with the Leh–Ladakh region – has also remained closed since yesterday. Authorities confirmed that significant damage has been reported on stretches beyond Manali towards Keylong.
With both highways blocked, officials estimate that more than 2,000 vehicles are stranded at various points across Kullu-Manali, Lahaul, and Mandi, leaving hundreds of travelers and locals stuck in the affected areas.
The situation worsened on Monday when the swollen Beas River wreaked havoc in Kullu-Manali, damaging several houses, shops, and bridges. Many buildings have been left precariously unstable, raising fears of further destruction if the weather turns again.
The crisis has also dealt a severe blow to the region’s horticulture and farming sectors. With the apple harvest at its peak, growers in Kullu-Manali are facing heavy losses as transport routes remain blocked. Without access to markets, timely transportation of produce has become impossible, threatening the livelihood of thousands of families dependent on horticulture.
“The timing couldn’t have been worse,” said a local apple grower. “The apples are ready for harvest, but we have no way to send them to the markets. If the situation doesn’t improve soon, we could lose the entire crop.”
Adding to the difficulties, telecommunication services have been severely disrupted in Lahaul-Spiti, Manali, and Banjar, further hampering communication and coordination.
On a positive note, the weather cleared today in Mandi, Kullu, and Lahaul-Spiti, raising hopes of faster restoration work. With clearer skies, authorities expect road-clearing and repair operations to pick up pace in the coming days across the hardest-hit stretches.
