Bada Bhangal village cut off as Kalihani river changes course

Bada Bhangal, a remote tribal village nestled deep in the Dhauladhar ranges of Kangra district, has been cut off from the rest of Himachal Pradesh as landslides caused by heavy rains has changed the course of Kalihani river. There was a footbridge on this river which has been rendered useless in the wake of the river changing its course. It has blocked the pedestrian routes.

The village, situated at an altitude of 7,800 feet, is accessible only on foot through treacherous high-altitude passes. Currently, both approaches, via Thamsar Pass (4,700 metres) and Kalihani Pass (4,800 metres), have been rendered dangerous or impassable.

The pedestrian trekking route (locally known as the khachar route) from Bir Billing in Baijnath sub-division has also been washed away at several points.

Talking to The Tribune, Mansa Ram Bhangalia, sarpanch of Bada Bhangal village, said, “About 400 people are living in Bada Bhangal panchayat, besides hundreds of goats, sheep and other cattle. We are facing a complete breakdown in supplies". In a letter written to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Baijnath he has demanded that the pedestrian routes must be restored immediately.

The tribal village is dominated by the Gaddi community — nomadic pastoralists who have sustained a traditional mountain lifestyle for centuries. For them, these summer months are crucial for grazing their livestock in the high-altitude pastures.

However, heavy rains and unseasonal snowfall have complicated their seasonal migration.

Mansa Ram said that the damage to pedestrian routes has also disrupted the supply of essential commodities and medicines, which are transported to the village by horses and mules. The Food and Civil Supplies Department sends ration through the Kalihani route which is now impassable.

Bada Bhangal remains one of the last strongholds of Himalayan pastoralism, a centuries-old way of life that is now increasingly threatened by climate change, infrastructural neglect and extreme weather conditions.

The sarpanch has urged the district administration to begin immediate restoration work to reconnect the village and ensure timely supply of essentials before the conditions worsen.

The District Magistrate Hemraj Bairwa said that the administration will soon restore the ‘khachar route’ as soon as possible. “There is no shortage of essential commodities in this remote village, as of now,” he said.

Himachal Tribune