Two youths drown in Malana nullah at Kullu

In a heartbreaking incident in the Parbati Valley, two young men were drowned in the Malana nullah while attempting to cross a temporary footbridge last night. Ram Chander (21) and Inderjeet (19), both residents of Malana village, were returning from Bhuntar when they fell into the raging waters of the nullah.

Following the incident, rescue teams launched a operation to recover the victims. Earlier today, the body of Inderjeet was retrieved from the nullah, while the search continues for Ram Chander, whose body was briefly spotted but later disappeared due to the strong currents.

In a bid to aid recovery efforts, authorities temporarily halted the flow of water from the Malana Dam upstream, allowing rescuers better visibility and access. Chhape Ram Negi, a member of the rescue team, stated that while they had initially sighted Ram Chander’s body, the force of the current made retrieval impossible. The search operation was continuing as rescuers battle challenging terrain and unpredictable water levels.

This tragic accident has reignited long-standing concerns over the poor infrastructure and negligence by authorities. The original metal footbridge was washed away in last year’s floods. Since then, villagers have had no choice but to construct a temporary wooden bridge on their own. Despite repeated appeals to the local administration and the hydel project company, no permanent solution has been put in place, leaving residents to risk their lives while commuting.

The devastation caused by the July 31, 2024, cloudburst severely impacted the entire region, resulting in the breaching of water from the Malana Hydel Project I dam and extensive damage to Jari-Malana road. Despite the severity of the situation, the authorities have failed to repair the crucial roadway connecting Malana to Jari, forcing villagers to rely on unsafe makeshift bridges and alternate paths for travel.

However, these makeshift solutions are far from safe. The road from Jari village to the nearest motorable point in Malana has suffered severe damage at five locations, and without proper restoration, daily commuting remains hazardous.

Expressing his frustration over the repeatedly ignored pleas, Malana Panchayat president Raju Ram has called for immediate intervention. He emphasised that the tragedy could have been averted had a proper footbridge been reinstated in time. “We have been urging the authorities to repair the road and restore the bridge, but our requests continue to go unheard. People are forced to take dangerous paths, risking their lives every day,” he said.

He further highlighted the financial strain villagers face due to the high costs of transporting goods through temporary ropeways, making everyday survival increasingly difficult. “We desperately want the road to Jari restored at the earliest,” he added.

Himachal Tribune