Kullu , May 23
A major accident was narrowly averted on the Manikaran-Kasol road in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district after a large tree fell onto a moving vehicle during strong winds on Saturday afternoon.
According to officials, the incident occurred near Kasol when a taxi carrying tourists from Manikaran to Bhuntar struck a tree that reportedly broke from a nearby forest area due to stormy weather.
The tree fell onto the front of the vehicle, severely damaging it. However, all passengers traveling in the taxi escaped safely. Authorities said the incident could have been tragic had the tree fallen directly onto the vehicle’s passenger compartment.
The falling tree also blocked the road, disrupting traffic movement on the Manikaran-Kasol route for some time. Upon receiving the information, a team from Manikaran police reached the spot and began clearing the road and restoring traffic.
Eyewitnesses said the incident created panic among other motorists traveling on the road, with several drivers stopping their vehicles at safer locations, fearing further landslides or falling trees amid the storm.
The incident has once again raised concerns about roadside safety in the region, particularly after a recent tragedy in the Ani subdivision, where four people lost their lives after a tree collapsed on a vehicle.
Local residents and taxi operators said several trees along the Bhuntar-Manikaran road stretch remain vulnerable during storms and strong winds, posing a potential threat to commuters and tourists traveling in the area.
