A glacier collapse in Aut Nala of Bharmour shortly after midnight set off a major avalanche, engulfing vehicles and shops and disrupting access to high-altitude areas of Himachal Pradesh, officials said. The incident took place in the Pulan Panchayat region, prompting emergency response efforts due to the extent of the damage.
The avalanche dragged away two loaded pick-up vehicles that had been parked for the night, hurling them into a deep gorge where they have yet to be located. Three commercial establishments belonging to local resident Ghadlo Devi also suffered severe damage. Confirming the incident, Panchayat head Anita Kapoor said assessment was underway as police and administrative teams launched search operations.
Local residents termed the incident unprecedented in recent memory, calling it the most severe avalanche to strike the area in nearly five decades. The disaster followed prolonged and heavy snowfall, with over two feet accumulating on Sunday night alone after three to four feet had fallen earlier in the week, significantly raising avalanche risk.
At the same time, Lahaul and Spiti district remains crippled by harsh winter conditions. According to the district disaster management report released at 8:15 am, a total of 275 PWD roads are currently blocked due to heavy snow. Key national highway sections, including Gramphoo–Lossar on NH-505 and Darcha–Sarchu on NH-03, continue to remain closed under winter shutdown orders issued in late 2025.
Several other strategic routes, such as Koksar–Rohtang Pass and Gramphu–Batal, are completely inaccessible. Only a handful of stretches—including ATR North Portal to Darcha and Sumdo to Lossar—are open, and even these are restricted to 4×4 vehicles equipped with snow chains. Authorities reported overcast conditions across the district but noted that essential services such as water supply and electricity remain unaffected.
The parallel emergencies highlight the fragility and isolation of Himachal Pradesh’s snow-bound regions, where extreme weather, avalanches, and extended road closures pose serious challenges to mobility, livelihoods, and emergency response during peak winter.
