A flash flood at Jahalma Nallah in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district severely disrupted a wedding procession on Monday, forcing the bride, groom and wedding guests to cross the swollen stream on an iron girder before continuing their journey home.
Wedding Party Stranded Overnight
The groom, Sudarshan Raghav, a resident of Hinsa village in Udaipur subdivision of Lahaul, had left early on Monday with his wedding procession to Lag Valley in neighbouring Kullu district to bring home his bride, Rita. The family had planned to return the same evening, and elaborate arrangements had been made in Hinsa village to welcome the newlywed couple.
However, heavy flooding at Jahalma Nallah on Monday afternoon cut off road connectivity after the temporary road was damaged. As a result, the wedding party was forced to stay overnight at the bride's home as they were unable to return to Lahaul.
Dangerous Crossing on Tuesday Morning
On Tuesday morning, the newlyweds and the wedding party resumed their journey. Upon reaching Jahalma Nallah, they found the road still inaccessible. They parked their vehicles on one side of the stream and carefully crossed the flooded stretch using an iron girder installed by locals and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as a temporary crossing. After reaching the opposite bank, the bride, groom and wedding guests boarded vehicles waiting on the other side and continued towards Hinsa village.
Rituals Postponed Due to Delay
A relative of the groom said the traditional wedding rituals that were scheduled to take place on Monday after the couple's arrival had to be postponed and were finally completed on Tuesday following their delayed return. The incident highlights the vulnerability of remote Himalayan regions to flash floods and the resilience of local communities in adapting to such disruptions.
