Angry residents of the Parbati valley in Kullu district staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday against the deplorable condition of the Bhuntar-Manikaran road. Social workers, public representatives, tourism entrepreneurs, farmers, horticulturists and members of various social organisations participated in the demonstration, demanding immediate repair of the vital road.

The 35-km Bhuntar-Manikaran road serves as the lifeline for the Parbati valley, connecting major religious and tourist destinations, including Manikaran, Kasol, Tosh, Pulga and Kheerganga. Thousands of vehicles ply on this route every day, carrying pilgrims, tourists, schoolchildren, patients and essential supplies. However, the road has deteriorated over time, with potholes, damaged surface and crumbling stretches making commuting risky.

The situation has exacerbated due to frequent landslides, particularly along the Ghatigad stretch, which has remained highly vulnerable since 2023. Debris from unstable hills regularly falls onto the road, which remains closed two or three times every month. In recent months, many vehicles have been damaged due to falling boulders, with drivers narrowly escaping fatal injuries. “How many close calls will it take before a life is lost?” asked a local resident.

The protesters argued that the road’s poor condition had severely impacted local businesses, tourism activities and daily life. The increasing tourist influx has made commuting on the narrow road a daily ordeal, with frequent traffic jams on the Sarsari-Manikaran stretch. Residents say that despite repeated appeals to the district administration and the state government over the years, no permanent solution to the problem has been provided. Temporary measures, such as deploying JCB machines to clear debris, have failed to address the root cause.

The protesters warned that if effective action was not taken soon, they would intensify their agitation.