Munish Sood
MANDI: At a time when heavy rains and recurring landslides are leaving commuters stranded on the Mandi-Kullu National Highway, the Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust at Pandoh in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a constant source of relief.
For the past several days, the temple committee has been setting up emergency kitchens and distributing hot meals to passengers stuck on the blocked highway — sometimes in collaboration with the district administration and, on many occasions, entirely on its own.
As the highway remained blocked for nearly 10 hours after fresh landslides near Pandoh, volunteers from the trust once again mobilised quickly. Nearly 1,000 packets of freshly cooked Maggi noodles were prepared and handed out to passengers waiting helplessly in traffic snarls around Pandoh, Dyod and Kainchi Mor.
Committee president Deepak Saini said the effort was not a one-time gesture but part of a continuous service routine.
“We have been serving travellers almost every day. Whenever the highway gets blocked, we immediately start relief kitchens. Sometimes the administration supports us with supplies, but many times we handle it ourselves. Our aim is simple — no commuter should go hungry in such times of crisis,” Saini said.
The drive was monitored by Mandi-Sadar Tehsildar Prince Dhiman while volunteers of the temple trust ensured food packets reached even those stuck in long vehicle queues.
Gratitude from stranded travellers
For the hundreds of passengers stuck overnight in rain-hit conditions, the warm food was nothing short of a blessing. Several travellers, including families with children, expressed deep gratitude.
“After spending hours in the rain without food, the meal provided by the temple trust felt like a lifeline,” said one motorist. “They have been helping us every single day and we cannot thank them enough.”
Pattern of service in every crisis
The relief initiative is only the latest in a long list of humanitarian efforts undertaken by the Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust over the years:
July 2023 flashfloods: The trust organised langars in flood-hit belts of Mandi and Kullu, providing daily meals to both victims and rescue teams.
COVID-19 pandemic: At the height of the lockdown, the trust prepared and distributed food packets to stranded migrant workers and families in need, making sure no one in the Pandoh belt went hungry.
Frequent highway blockages: Whenever major landslides have cut off the highway in recent years, the trust has stepped in with food, water, and shelter for bus passengers and truck drivers stranded for hours.
