Incessant rain continuing since Saturday in the region has led to flash floods that have caused extensive damage to houses, bridges, National Highways and a few government buildings in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday .
While several areas of Kullu district have suffered losses of government and private property, the tourist town Manali has been affected most; several vehicles have also been reportedly damaged in the flash floods at many places. The Beas river water also entered Manali subzi mandi market yard and also damaged walls of a hotel near Manali potato ground.
One person trapped in the market yard was rescued by a rescue team .
As per reports , “ Two houses , three shops, one bridge have been washed away in Bahang and old Manali ; a large patch of Manali- Leh National Highway has been severely damaged and traffic on the highway has been stopped .”
Gushing water of the River Beas has damaged roads, houses and bailey bridges from Palchan to Kullu – Mandi. Approach roads to Patli Kuhal and Bhuntar bailey bridge, Sarwari foot bridge in Kullu have also been damaged.
Three shops were damaged near Ramshila in Kullu and people were evacuated from several shops and houses living near the bank of River Beas.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh inspected rain-affected areas of Kullu town and asked people having shops and houses near the River Beas to move to safer places.
The traffic on Chandigarh – Manali National highway no 3 (four lanes) remained blocked for the second day on Tuesday due to landslides at many places. The Highway has been blocked near Samletu (Bilaspur), Jhalogi near Pandoh and Kullu- Manali Highway was also blocked at Bindu Dhak and Raisin .
The alternative route from Mandi to Kullu via Kamand also remained blocked on Tuesday.
The traffic on Kiratpur to Mandi has also been diverted via old Swarghat road from the four-lanes at a few places .However traffic to Manali from Kullu has been diverted through Left Bank road.
