On July 9 and 10, the Beas river caused extensive damage in Himachal’s Kullu and Mandi districts, resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property. The devastation was unprecedented and was a result of a combination of greed, neglect, and climate change.
Witnessing the raging Beas hammering the walls of his cottage in Kalath near Manali, Parveen Sharma described it as an apocalyptic event. His five vehicles and the Riverside Cottage were swept away by the river. Many others in Himachal Pradesh are also facing the same question of what to do next after the flood.
The destruction started on July 9 and continued for two days, affecting houses, hotels, electricity poles, and water supply pipes. The national highway disappeared at multiple locations and vehicles were tossed around. In Bhuntar town, around 35 houses were swept away. The floodgates of Pandoh dam had to be opened, submerging Pandoh village and part of Mandi town downstream. Many bridges were damaged or washed away, and staff at the Larji hydro project had to run for their lives.
The extent of the destruction became apparent after the Beas receded. Many houses and hotels were damaged, and the national highway between Manali and Kullu is not serviceable. The Himachal state disaster management authority estimated the loss of government property in Kullu district alone at Rs 780 crore. So far, 20 bodies have been found, and the recovery process continues.
Climate activists argue that the state is witnessing man-made catastrophes due to factors such as dams, mining, deforestation, and encroachments. Dumping of road construction waste directly into the river is identified as a significant cause of the severity of the floods. Geologists assert that such waste obstructs the natural flow of the river and raises water levels, causing the waters to flow sideways and leading to cutting through the banks during floods.
Some damage could have been avoided if the floodgates of the Pandoh and Sainj dams had been opened earlier. There are demands for an inquiry to determine the official accountability for the delay. Illegal mining in the Beas is also blamed for worsening the situation. Environmentalists argue that it reduces the carrying capacity of the river and makes it more prone to flooding during heavy rains or flash floods.
The chief minister of Himachal Pradesh attributes the destruction mainly to cloudbursts and not to dumping, mining, or encroachments. However, environmentalists argue that illegal mining and encroachments have contributed to the intensity of the flood. The Beas river is seen by some as reclaiming its space as people have encroached upon its banks by constructing hotels and houses too close to the river.