Manali-Leh Highway Reopens After Flood Disruption; 1,000 Vehicles Evacuated In Mandi
Flash floods disrupt highway before restoration and evacuation.
The Manali–Leh National Highway was reopened to traffic on Tuesday night after being blocked by flash floods near Jispa in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district, restoring movement for nearly 1,000 stranded vehicles. The highway had been cut off following sudden flooding triggered by heavy rainfall and snowmelt, which also disrupted connectivity across multiple stretches in the high-altitude region. Officials confirmed that coordinated rescue and restoration efforts ensured all stranded commuters were safely evacuated.
According to authorities, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), in coordination with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), carried out extensive operations to clear debris and restore traffic. Long queues of tourist vehicles, trucks, and other transport had formed on both sides of the affected stretch after the flash flood at Jispa and subsequent blockages in nearby areas. The BRO’s 70 RCC unit worked overnight using multiple machines and personnel to reopen the highway in phases, allowing vehicles to move gradually once the road was partially restored.
Officials said nearly 1,000 vehicles were safely evacuated from the highway during the operation, with no casualties reported in the Lahaul-Spiti incident. However, several nearby areas also experienced disruptions as debris from floodwaters blocked the road to Keylong, the district headquarters. The Jobrang bridge, an important link to remote parts of the district, was also inundated, further complicating access in the region. Rising water levels in streams across Lahaul-Spiti have heightened concerns about continued weather-related disruptions.
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Local residents reported that the flash floods were triggered by melting snow and heavy rainfall, which caused the Jhalma nallah and surrounding water channels to overflow. Authorities have warned that high-altitude regions remain vulnerable to sudden flooding and landslides, especially during continued rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain in the coming days, prompting disaster management teams to maintain heightened surveillance and issue travel advisories for motorists using mountain highways.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Mandi district, a woman from Nalagarh died after being struck by a falling boulder near Aut amid continuous rainfall. Police said she had stopped near the Shani Temple after feeling unwell and stepped out of her vehicle when the rock dislodged from a hillside and hit her, causing fatal injuries. Authorities have launched an investigation into the accident and urged residents and travellers to avoid landslide-prone and riverbank areas as the Beas River continues to flow above normal levels.
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