Munish Sood
MANDI:
A major tragedy was narrowly averted in the Pandoh area of Mandi district on Saturday (November 8, 2025) morning when a Bolero taxi carrying six passengers overturned on a makeshift road across the Bakhli Khud, which was suddenly submerged by a surge in water levels. All occupants escaped without injury, rescued by local villagers who witnessed the accident.
The incident occurred when the vehicle, en route from Kashod to Pandoh, lost control on the slippery, flooded culvert. Eyewitnesses reported that the water level rose rapidly to nearly three feet, causing the driver to lose balance and the vehicle to flip onto its side.
“It was a matter of seconds. The water current was strong, but people around acted immediately and saved everyone,” a local resident recounted, highlighting the swift community response that prevented a potential fatality.
Road built of necessity, washed away anew
The road on which the accident took place is a symbol of both local resilience and administrative failure. It was not an official Public Works Department (PWD) project but a temporary passage painstakingly built by villagers themselves after waiting nearly four months for the restoration of a bridge washed away in monsoon floods earlier this year.
With their repeated appeals to the PWD going unanswered, the residents of Bakhli, supported by the Mata Baglamukhi Temple Committee, took matters into their own hands. Using personal funds, machinery, and voluntary labour, they constructed a narrow track, reconnecting over 15 panchayats that had been cut off.
However, the hard work of these community members, including individuals like BR Thakur and Harish Kumar who provided JCB machines and trucks, was undone by Saturday’s downpour. The sudden rise in the khud (stream) severely damaged the temporary road, once again halting small-vehicle movement.
“We built this road with our own hands because the authorities didn’t act for months. Now it’s gone again. How long can we keep rebuilding?” a frustrated villager asked.
Official response and lingering vulnerabilities
When contacted, PWD officials acknowledged the situation. Assistant Engineer Praveen Talwar stated, “The department is aware of the situation. The road will soon be upgraded for bus movement,” referring to the ongoing widening work on the Pandoh–Aulti section.
While the swift rescue prevented loss of life, the incident underscores the persistent vulnerability of hill communities who are forced to rely on temporary, fragile infrastructure. The people of Bakhli and surrounding panchayats continue to demonstrate remarkable collective strength, even as they face the twin challenges of nature’s fury and what they perceive as official neglect.
