Crash barriers damaged near Kullu-Manali highway, illegal river access suspected

An incident of serious concern has come to light near 14 Mile on the Kullu-Manali national highway, where unidentified miscreants have allegedly damaged National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) crash barriers and created a temporary access road leading towards the Beas.

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The incident, reported late on Tuesday night, has triggered panic among local residents and raised fresh questions over unchecked activities of the illegal mining mafia in the region. According to locals, several sections of the crash barriers installed along the highway were uprooted and broken, allegedly to facilitate easy movement of vehicles towards the riverbed. The distance between the damaged spot and the Beas river is merely 20 to 30 metres, strengthening suspicions that the act was aimed at enabling illegal mining operations. Residents have alleged that despite repeated instances of illegal mining in the area in the past, the latest incident reflects a blatant attack on the