New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun restoration of the flood-hit Kiratpur-Manali section in Himachal Pradesh, after heavy rain, cloudbursts and flash floods damaged key stretches of the corridor.

According to an official statement on Friday, ten locations of the Kullu-Manali section have been completely washed away while five other spots have been partially damaged, cutting off road connectivity to the tourist town of Manali from the rest of the state through NH-21.

“In view of recent severe floods in Mandi, cloudburst and flash flood in Kullu district causing damages to the Kiratpur-Pandoh-Kullu-Manali corridor, NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav held a meeting with senior NHAI officials from NHAI headquarters along with field officers from Regional Office,” the statement said.

The alternate road managed by Himachal Pradesh PWD has also suffered damage, leaving only light vehicles able to pass. To address this, NHAI has decided to provide financial support to HP PWD for immediate restoration and maintenance of the road being used by diverted highway traffic.

With access to several stretches cut off, NHAI said temporary measures will be carried out to restore connectivity at the earliest. Adequate funds have already been sanctioned to the NHAI Regional Office in Shimla for this work.

BI Bureau