A newly laid stretch of the Kullu-Manali four-lane highway near the toll plaza at Raison washed away in a recent spell of rainfall, raising questions about the quality of construction.

The road stretch, which was re-carpeted three months ago, has reduced to rubble. If this newly built road could not withstand a rainfall spell, local residents fear what will happen when the monsoon arrives with full force.

This is not an isolated incident. According to reports, a 38-km stretch of the National Highway-3, which was constructed in 2019, has become an example of infrastructure mismanagement.

Large sections of this highway had caved in and lost alignment in the flashfloods of 2023. Devastation repeated in 2025 when flashfloods swept away critical stretches of the highway near Dohlunala, Raison, Bindu Dhank and the Aloo Ground, severing access to Manali for days together.

The local residents have consistently alleged substandard construction of the highway. “We’re paying the price of rushed development,” says Roshan Thakur, a Manali hotelier. Mohit Sharma, a resident of Raison, points towards a broken promise: “Land was acquired for the construction of a four-lane highway but only two lanes were built.”

Manali hotelier Sanjay alleges that contractors have installed only mud walls and temporary crates instead of permanent protections on the Beas banks along the highway.

The residents also question the durability of construction materials. Another local resident Manoj says that even temporary barricades collapsed before the latest floods, fuelling fears that unscientific methods have rendered the road fragile.

Project Director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Varun Chari says that the damaged road was a filled section on gabion/crate walls that had been temporarily restored after the floods last year.

“A new nullah developed on the hillside has damaged this temporarily-restored highway section. However, two-lane traffic is running smoothly here,” he claims, adding that the restoration work is underway.

Chari assures people that long-term protection works, including RCC retaining walls, will commence soon as tenders worth over Rs 300 crore are being evaluated.

Until permanent solutions are found and implemented, the highway that was meant to bring prosperity remains a perilous corridor, emblematic of the risks of unchecked development in ecologically-sensitive zones.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday presented supplementary demands for grants to the tune of Rs 40,461.95 crore in Vidhan Sabha for the year 2025-26.

On March 17, 2025, the Chief Minister had presented a Budget of Rs 58,514 crore for the year 2025-26. The supplementary budget is nearly 70 per cent of the Budget. For the record, the supplementary budget for 2024-25 was Rs 17,053 crore.

The Chief Minister said the supplementary budget included 36,374.61 crore under the state schemes and Rs 4,087.34 crore under Centrally-sponsored schemes.

The major expenditure proposed under the state schemes includes Rs 26,194.95 crore for repayment of ways and means advance and overdraft, and Rs 4,150.14 crore for power subsidy.

Besides, Rs 818.20 crore spent for relief on account of natural calamities, Rs 785.22 crore for water supply and sanitation schemes, Rs 657.22 crore for HIMCARE, SAHARA, robotic surgery facility in health institutions.

The CM said under the Centrally-sponsored schemes, the supplementary demand is proposed for funding the ongoing and new schemes.

The prominent among these are Rs 2,453.97 crore for disaster management under National Disaster Response Fund, Rs 688 crore for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, Rs 352.18 crore for compensation to Renukaji Dam oustees, etc.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur expressed surprise at the size of the supplementary budget. “It’s nearly 70 per cent of the Budget for 2025-26.

It will take our Budget for 2025-26 to nearly one lakh crore. It shows the government has been wrongly taking money from the Treasury under ways and means,” said Thakur.

The Leader of Opposition further alleged that the copy of the supplementary budget was not provided in the House before it was laid and was “passed in a hurry”.

“The convention is the document is made available in the House before it is laid. The document wasn’t made available and then it was passed in a hurry. It seems an attempt to hide the government’s failure,” said Thakur.

CM Sukhu explains the spike

Temporary borrowing, not expansion: The spike in the supplementary budget is due to short-term loans taken under Ways and Means after the withdrawal of RDG.

Lower-cost financial management: The government opted for Ways and Means advances because of their relatively lower interest rates compared to overdrafts, aiming to minimise fiscal burden.

No Rs 98,000 crore Budget jump: The CM rejected Opposition claims, asserting that the higher figure is misleading and that all expenditures and receipts have been transparently accounted for

Tourist influx surged in Himachal Pradesh after the snow, with Manali being thronged and devotees making a beeline for shaktipeeths and other shrines on the first day of Navratri on Thursday.

While snow-enthusiasts headed towards Manali and the Atal Tunnel, devotees turned up in hordes at Devi temples wishing for a prosperous year.

People linked to Manali’s tourism and allied industries welcomed the sudden spike in hotel occupancy.

In the Manali valley and parts of Lahaul and Spiti, an intermittent snowfall has been on for the past three days.

Since Wednesday evening, Gondla in Lahaul and Spiti district has received 13 cm of snow, followed by Keylong, Kukumseri, Hansa, and Kalpa in Kinnaur, which received 12 mm, 11.4 cm, 10 cm, and 0.4 cm of snow.

Vehicles were barred from going beyond the Solang Valley due to snow accumulation.

“The snowfall in mid-March is a boon for the tourism industry as it would last till summer in high altitude areas, attracting tourists,” said Roshan Thakur, president of Manali Hoteliers Association.

Gajender Thakur, president of the Federation of Himachal Hotels and Restaurant Association, said he expects hotel occupancy to double to 70 per cent on the weekend.

Chaman Kapoor, another leading stakeholder in the tourism industry, said, “Snowfall and a drop in mercury have proved to be a blessing boon for tourism. Snowfall has also brought cheers to orchardists, who were worried due to inadequate moisture and cooling in the winter.”

Manali resident Fateh Chand said the rain will help crops by replenishing the soil’s moisture levels.

The doors of such famous shrines as Brajeshwari Devi and Chamunda Mata in Kangra district, Chintpurni in Una district, Sri Naina Devi in Bilaspur, Baba Balaknath temple in Hamirpur, Maa Bala Sundri Temple in Sirmaur district, opened before dawn.

As they did, they all resonated with the echoes of hymns and chants.

Hundreds of devotees visited Kali Bari, Tara Devi, Bhimakali, Hatkoti and Sankat Mochan in Shimla.

Sadan Sharma, the priest at the Brajeshwari Temple, said pilgrims throng the temple throughout the entire nine-day festival from across the north.

Raghavendra Yadav, a devotee from Uttar Pradesh, said that Brajeshwari is his family deity and he considers himself fortunate to seek her blessing on the very first day of Navratri.

One person was killed on the spot while 25 others sustained injuries, after the bus they were travelling in overturned on a road in Bangana area here, police said on Wednesday.

The accident took place around 10 pm on Tuesday when the bus, carrying devotees from Jalandhar in Punjab, was on its way to Shah Talai in Bilaspur district after a visit to Peer Nigah in Amb.

A devotee, hailing from Punjab’s Phagwara, died on the spot. The name of the deceased is yet to be disclosed.

A total of 25 devotees sustained various injuries in the accident, with one left with a broken leg, police said.

The local administration and a police team arrived at the scene and immediately initiated relief and rescue operations. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ajay Thakur said the injured had been admitted to a hospital at Thanakalan and the regional hospital in Una.

The cause of the accident was being investigated, he added.

A sharp decline in fish production at the Pong Lake has triggered concern among fishermen, as around 3,000 of them are facing an uncertain future as their daily catch continues to dwindle.

Fishermen associated with 15 Fisheries Cooperative Societies across the reservoir have reported significantly lower yields during the current financial year (April 2025 to March 2026) compared to last year.

In many instances, fishermen are returning empty-handed for weeks, underscoring the severity of the crisis.

According to cooperative representatives, one of the primary reasons for the decline is the prolonged opening of floodgates at the Pong Dam for nearly three months following heavy monsoon rains.

This led to a substantial outflow of fish into downstream areas of Punjab via the Beas. Interestingly, the Sathana Fisheries Cooperative Society downstream the Pong Dam has reportedly recorded an increase of nearly 10 tonnes in fish production, reinforcing these claims.

Another major factor is the excessive accumulation of silt in the reservoir. Visible across stretches from Dehra to Dadasiba and Bongta to Nandpur, silt has adversely impacted natural breeding and feeding grounds while also restricting fish movement.

Members of the Fisheries Cooperatives Socieities in Dehra, Haripur and Nandpur confirm that silt has significantly reduced fish availability.

Besides, higher water levels this year have expanded the reservoir’s spread area, making fishing operations more challenging and less productive.

The data reveals an alarming drop in production — Nagrota Surian has recorded a decline of 12 tonnes, Guglara eight tonnes and Jawali around three tonnes with similar trends observed at other centres.

The economic impact is already visible. Many fishermen, who depend solely on fishing for their livelihood, are struggling to meet household expenses.

Several fishermen have taken bank loans to sustain their operations and now face mounting financial stress amid falling incomes. As the crisis deepens, fishermen urge the Fisheries Department and the Himachal Government to take immediate corrective measures.

Without timely intervention, this decline can severely impact both livelihoods and the ecological balance of the region.

Fresh snowfall in the upper reaches of the Dhauladhar range turned the mountains into a spectacular white landscape, while the lower parts of the Kangra valley witnessed heavy rainfall, leading to a sharp drop in temperatures across the region.

The towering peaks of the Dhauladhars, clearly visible from Dharamsala and Palampur, were covered with a fresh blanket of snow after an overnight spell of precipitation.

The snowfall followed continuous rainfall in the mid-hill areas and snow in higher altitude regions, including the remote valley of Chhota Bhanghal.

The weather system has brought a noticeable chill to the district, with temperatures dropping significantly and cold conditions intensifying in several areas. Residents woke up to cloudy skies and biting cold, while the snow-clad Dhauladhar peaks created a striking backdrop across the valley.

The fresh snowfall also drew tourists and photography enthusiasts to various vantage points in Dharamsala and Palampur to capture the scenic beauty of the mountains.

The panoramic view of the snow-covered Dhauladhar range remains one of the biggest attractions for visitors to the Kangra valley during winter spells.

According to the India Meteorological Department, more snowfall is likely in higher altitude areas such as Bir-Billing and Chhota Bhanghal over the next 24 hours. However, the fresh spell of snow and rain has also caused disruptions in the higher reaches. Several link roads connecting remote villages have been affected due to snow accumulation, disrupting transportation.

Adventure tourism activities have also taken a hit. Paragliding operations at Bir-Billing have been temporarily suspended due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Vehicular movement towards high-altitude destinations such as Billing, Multhan and Rajgundha valley has also been halted as a precautionary measure.

Authorities have advised residents and tourists to avoid travelling to the upper reaches as several roads have become slippery due to snowfall.

Despite the temporary disruption, the fresh snowfall is expected to boost tourism in the coming days as visitors flock to the region to witness the winter charm of the snow-covered Dhauladhar mountains.

Around 1,000 vehicles were stranded at the south portal of the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, on Sunday evening after the snow in the higher reaches of Manali disrupted traffic, officials said.

A police team from Manali reached the spot and began the rescue operation, guiding the stranded vehicles towards Manali till the filing of the report.

The police also requested the Border Roads Organisation and other rescue agencies to depute their teams so that the sliding of vehicles could be avoided by spraying mud on the road, they said.

The police also appealed to the stranded people to be patient, as the rescue operation is on and they are safe.

Dark clouds covered the sky, significantly reducing visibility in some areas, with the upper hills of Manali, including the Atal Tunnel, seeing light snow.

Around 1,000 vehicles were stranded at the south portal of the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, on Sunday evening after the snow in the higher reaches of Manali disrupted traffic, officials said.

A police team from Manali reached the spot and began the rescue operation, guiding the stranded vehicles towards Manali till the filing of the report.

The police also requested the Border Roads Organisation and other rescue agencies to depute their teams so that the sliding of vehicles could be avoided by spraying mud on the road, they said.

The police also appealed to the stranded people to be patient, as the rescue operation is on and they are safe.

Dark clouds covered the sky, significantly reducing visibility in some areas, with the upper hills of Manali, including the Atal Tunnel, seeing light snow.

The state capital of Shimla and its surrounding areas experienced a thunderstorm on Sunday, accompanied by hail and rain, while the higher-altitude regions in Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts received another round of fresh snow.

Dark, convective clouds covered the sky, significantly reducing visibility in some areas. The upper hills of Manali, including the Atal Tunnel, saw light snowfall.

Videos of tourists enjoying the snow near the tunnel have been circulating widely on the internet.

People walk with umbrellas during a sudden spell of rain in Shimla on Sunday. Tribune photo: Lalit Kumar

The snow has brought joy to tourism stakeholders, as the combination of snow in the hills and a heat wave in the plains during the holidays is expected to boost tourist footfall in the region. However, a perceived disruption in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders has been a concern.

People take shelter during a sudden spell of rain in Shimla on Sunday. Tribune photo: Lalit Kumar

The Shimla Meteorological Office issued an orange warning for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in the districts of Shimla, Kullu, and Mandi for Sunday. They also predict light rain and snow in the state until March 21.

An orange alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds — with wind speeds between 40-50 km per hour — has been issued for Kullu and Shimla, as well as hail warnings for Solan and Sirmaur districts on Thursday, March 19.

People walk with umbrellas during a sudden spell of rain in Shimla on Sunday. Tribune photo: Lalit Kumar

Additionally, a yellow alert has been issued by the MeT for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, also with wind speeds of 40-50 km per hour, in ten out of twelve districts, except Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

In the past 24 hours, a heat wave was noted in Nahan, which recorded a maximum temperature of 30.2°C on Saturday afternoon. In contrast, Tabo was the coldest location at night, with temperatures dropping to 1.4°C.

A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from the night of March 17.

The Kullu-Manali National Highway-03 has suffered repeated damage in recent years. Even built protection walls have failed.

A stone-crate retaining wall at Rangri near Manali collapsed on Friday, indicating that flood barriers are already giving way. Retaining walls and stone crate fences erected by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on the roadside have got uprooted and have now reached the river.

Local resident Manoj warns that temporary barricades have also collapsed and so far the NHAI’s efforts have proved insufficient.

Manali hotelier Roshan Thakur alleges that contractors have installed only mud walls and temporary crates along the Beas riverbanks instead of permanent protections. These gave way even before the latest floods, fuelling fears that substandard construction and unscientific methods have made the road fragile.

Hotelier Ramesh Thakur says, “We are paying the price for rushed development.” In fact, even today several stretches of the highway are still operating as a single-lane road and have not yet been upgraded to two lanes.

Residents also complain that the highway was never built to its planned scale. They say that the original project had envisaged four lanes but only two lanes were constructed while the land was acquired for four lanes but only two were built.

In the first major floods of 2023, large stretches of the highway had caved in and alignment had been lost. Many damaged portions of the highway were yet to be restored completely and even after two years, the NHAI is not making enough efforts for complete restoration.

The highway had witnessed similar devastation in 2025 when its right-bank sections at Dohlunala, Raison, 14-17 Mile, Bindu Dhank and Aloo Ground were washed away. Officials say temporary routes were opened to resume traffic but the highway is still vulnerable.

The NHAI says that permanent solutions are being planned. It has approved Rs 400 crore for dam-style RCC retaining walls at 12 vulnerable sites. NHAI officials say that only temporary maintenance is feasible to keep traffic moving.

NHAI Resident Engineer Ashok Chauhan has announced the installation of about 1,500 JCC concrete barriers between Kullu and Manali to prevent road accidents in flood-hit zones. He adds that the highway will be spruced up for the tourist season by March.

At Ramshila, on the Kullu-Bhuntar road, which was washed away last year, the state Public Works Department is already strengthening and widening the road at a cost of Rs 1 crore.

Despite these measures, skepticism remains. Many stretches of the highway still await permanent reinforcement and every monsoon raises fears.

Residents argue that without proper design and highway widening to four lanes as originally promised, the highway will remain a death trap.

With tourism and local livelihoods at stake, citizens are demanding accountability for the past work and assurance that the highway will be truly flood-proof.

In a major crackdown on drug network, police has arrested main supplier of LSD from Gurugram, Haryana.

The accused has been identified as Naviel Harrison (27), resident of Calicut, Kerala.

Addressing a press conference here, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shimla, Abhishek Dhiman said that the district police on March 10 had arrested two accused named Sandeep Sharma, a resident of Punjab and Priya Sharma, a resident of Sirmaur from BCS area in Shimla with 562 strips of LSD worth Rs 1.1 crore.

“During the investigation, police interrogated the accused and also analysed digital evidence, based on which police came to know about the main supplier. Taking prompt action, a team was dispatched to nab the accused who was arrested today from Haryana,” he said.

“Investigation revealed that Sandeep and Harrison have been in contact of each other for a very long time and were involved in LSD trafficking.

They used to communicate with each other through WhatsApp calls. It was also found that Sandeep used to supply ganja to Harrison in exchange of LSD,” said the ASP.

He further said that investigation is going on and the involvement of other persons involved in this network is being examined.

“So far this year, the district police has arrested as many as 144 persons under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Also, out of the total, about 14 drug peddlers have been arrested from other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar and near India-Nepal border,” he said.

With an aim to regulate the hiring process of retirees, the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has adopted the state government’s guidelines regarding the terms and conditions for re-engagement of retired employees, including those covered under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) before retirement.

An official notification has been issued by the Vice-Chancellor, he stated that the university has decided to adopt the office memorandum issued by the Special Secretary (Finance), regarding the terms and conditions of re employed persons covered under the NPS.

As per the guidelines, retired employees re-engaged by the university will be paid fixed emoluments not exceeding 40 per cent of the basic pay last drawn, which will be treated as the upper limit. However, Dearness Allowance (DA) will not be admissible on this amount.

Also, the tenure of their engagement will be for a period determined by the university and will come into effect from the date of issuance of the appointment order. However, the university could terminate before the completion of their tenure of their services in case their services are no longer required.

The re-employed retirees will also be entitled to TA/DA at the rate admissible at the time of their retirement, along with one day of leave for every completed month of service. They will also continue to avail medical facilities and reimbursement of medical expenses as applicable to retirees.

The guidelines also permit such employees to retain government residential accommodation, if allotted at the time of their re-engagement, during the period of engagement.

The guidelines were issued by the Department of Finance of the state government in November 2023. However, the government had also advised departments and institutions to examine the need for re-engagement carefully in view of directions issued by the Himachal Pradesh High Court in a public interest litigation related to re-employment of retired officials.

Chairing a review meeting to assess the supply of petroleum products and LPG in the state in view of the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Chief Secretary said the overall stock position in Himachal remained stable.

However, he noted that the supply of commercial LPG cylinders had been slightly affected due to the prevailing international situation.

Gupta said around 15,000 commercial LPG cylinders were presently available in the state and were being supplied to hotels, restaurants and other institutions as required.

Despite the minor disruption, he said government and private hospitals as well as educational institutions were being given priority supply of commercial LPG cylinders to ensure that essential services continued without interruption.

Reviewing the district-wise fuel supply position, Gupta directed officials to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG for the public.

He also urged people, particularly domestic LPG consumers, not to panic or make unnecessary bookings based on misleading information circulating on social media.

The Chief Secretary emphasised that there was adequate stock of domestic LPG in the state and consumers should remain patient.

He further directed all Deputy Commissioners to closely monitor the situation and conduct daily reviews of fuel supply and distribution in their respective districts to prevent any disruption.

Additional Chief Secretary RD Nazim and Director of Food and Civil Supplies Ram Kumar Gautam were also present at the meeting.