Manali: The strategically vital Manali-Leh National Highway was forced to close for several hours on Tuesday following a sudden flash flood in a mountain stream near Jispa. Triggered by intense rainfall across the high-altitude Lahaul Valley, the overflowing stream sent a massive torrent of water, mud, and heavy boulders crashing onto the tarmac, completely paralyzing vehicular traffic. The unexpected disruption left hundreds of vehicles, including long lines of tourist SUVs, commercial supply trucks, and local commuters, stranded on both sides of the highway.
Upon receiving the alert, personnel from the Border Roads Organisation rushed to the disaster spot with heavy earth-moving machinery to clear the blockages. Following hours of intensive clearing operations under challenging weather conditions, the BRO teams managed to clear a significant portion of the mud and debris, allowing the highway to be partially reopened. Traffic is currently being filtered through the affected stretch in a regulated, phased manner to clear the massive backlog of stranded commuters.
Local administrative officials noted that water levels across multiple glacial streams in the tribal Lahaul-Spiti district have risen to dangerous levels due to a combination of recent heavy downpours and seasonal snowmelt. The district administration has issued an advisory strongly urging travellers to check real-time weather updates and road safety bulletins before embarking on journeys through the region. Motorists have been explicitly warned to avoid crossing swelling rivulets and to stay clear of identified landslide-prone zones during active rainy spells. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has predicted continued rainfall over the state’s mountainous interior, prompting disaster management teams to escalate round-the-clock monitoring of highly vulnerable choke points.
