Old Manali Bridge Collapses Amid Heavy Rainfall

August 26, 2025

Manali, Himachal Pradesh: A bridge in Old Manali, spanning the Manalsu Nala near the Beas River, collapsed on Monday due to flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall in the region. The incident has disrupted connectivity to the popular tourist destination, raising concerns about infrastructure resilience in Himachal Pradesh.

According to reports, the bridge was damaged when floodwaters from the Manalsu Nala and Beas River surged, exacerbated by incessant rainfall. No casualties were reported, but the collapse has caused significant inconvenience to locals and tourists. Videos circulating on social media show the bridge partially washed away, with debris scattered along the riverbank.

IMD Flash Warnings

The region has been grappling with severe weather, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing warnings for heavy rainfall, landslides, and flash floods. The collapse follows a pattern of infrastructure damage in Manali, where heavy rains have previously caused landslides and disrupted roads, including the Chandigarh-Manali and Manali-Leh highways.

Local authorities, including the Public Works Department (PWD), are assessing the damage and planning restoration efforts. The collapse has renewed criticism of delayed infrastructure projects in the region, with residents pointing to the slow progress on other bridges, such as the under-construction Solang bridge, which also collapsed in November 2022 due to poor construction quality.