The chants of "Go back Kangana, you are late" were heard on Thursday when Bollywood actor and BJP Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut drove through rain-affected regions of Manali in Himachal Pradesh.
Footage from Patlikuhal in the Kullu district soon went viral with locals waving black flags and shouting slogans just near the actor-turned-politician's convoy.
Tensions broke out when BJP leaders along with others in Kangana's entourage tried to placate protesters, resulting in heated arguments. The police had to intervene to restore order.
The region had been battered by heavy rains on August 25 and 26, triggering landslides and flash floods. The swollen Beas river swept away a multi-storey hotel along with four shops, while stretches of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway and the Manali-Leh Highway were also destroyed. Right Bank Road of Manali, which links Kullu city, the bus stand, and Bindu Dhank, suffered severe damage as well.
In the Ramshele region of Kullu, a house came crashing down, water logged into many homes along the 14 Mile mark near Manali, and a fish farm at Patlikuhal were also destroyed.
Earlier during the day, Kangana had gone to Solang and Palchan villages in the Manali taluk, which are among those hit by the disaster, to meet residents and survey the damage.
She was informed of the scope of the damages by BJP leader and previous Manali MLA Govind Singh Thakur and residents. According to Thakur, families of about 15–16 weak houses had already been shifted to safer locations.
Locals also told the MP that the whole of Solang village is susceptible to sliding, since the Beas River keeps eroding the mountain below. Channelising the river and changing its course, they recommended, was the only solution that would work.
Read also| Rahul Gandhi targets CEC, says voters from Congress booths deleted using software
Read also| 'Baseless': EC rejects Rahul Gandhi's charge against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
