Bada Bhangal, a remote tribal village in the Dhauladhar mountains of Kangra district, has been cut off from the rest of Himachal Pradesh. Heavy rains caused landslides, forcing the Kalihani river to change its course. This has made the only footbridge across the river unusable and blocked pedestrian routes.
The village is located at an altitude of about 7,800 feet and is only accessible on foot. But both trekking routes, Thamsar Pass (4,700 metres) and Kalihani Pass (4,800 metres), have become dangerous or impossible to cross due to the weather.
The local trekking route from Bir Billing in Baijnath has also been washed away in several places.
“There are around 400 people living in the Bada Bhangal panchayat, besides hundreds of goats, sheep, and cattle. We are completely cut off from supplies,” said Mansa Ram Bhangalia, the village Sarpanch.
He has written to the Baijnath Sub-Divisional Magistrate, asking for the pedestrian routes to be restored urgently. The Gaddi community, known for their traditional nomadic lifestyle, lives in this village. These summer months are vital for grazing livestock in the mountain pastures. But this year, rains and unexpected snowfall have disrupted their movement.
"The damage to pedestrian routes has also disrupted the supply of essential commodities and medicines. The Food and Civil Supplies Department usually sends rations through the Kalihani route, which is now impassable,” Mansa Ram added.
Bada Bhangal is one of the last places in the region where traditional Himalayan pastoral life continues. But climate change, poor infrastructure, and extreme weather are putting this way of life at risk.
District Magistrate Hemraj Bairwa said that efforts are on to restore the khachar route. “There is no shortage of essential commodities in the village, as of now,” he added, saying that the administration is keeping a close watch.
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