Flash Floods Sweep Away Manali’s Iconic Sher-e-Punjab Restaurant, Only Entrance Wall Left Standing

Shimla: The unusually harsh monsoon is causing devastation in the plains as well as hilly states.

Manali, an extremely popular Himalayan resort town and honeymoon destination in Himachal Pradesh, is bearing the brunt too.

The iconic Sher-e-Punjab restaurant, a landmark spot for tourists and locals in Manali, was reduced to shambles as floodwaters destroyed almost the entire building, leaving only its front wall and entrance gate intact.

Beas river, which was flowing above danger mark because of heavy and incessant rainfall, caused flash floods in and around Manali.

A video has gone viral on social media, showing only the front of Sher-e-Punjab and the nameplate still standing, while the remaining portion of the building was washed away.

The restaurant, which serves authentic North Indian cuisine, is popular for its quality of food served as well as its picturesque location, with mountains and river Beas as the backdrop.

The Sher-e-Punjab has, over the years, attracted celebrity guests, including Bollywood stars and renowned athletes. In recent years, it became a favourite among food vloggers and social media influencers, further boosting its popularity.

Red alert in Himachal

Manali may be in the spotlight now because of the Sher-e-Punjab catastrophe, but Himachal officials said shops have been washed away, buildings collapsed, highways cut off and residential areas inundated as heavy rain triggered landslides and flash floods at several places in the Himalayan state.

The meteorological office has issued a ‘red’ alert in Himachal, warning of intense to very intense spells of rain at some places in Kangra, Chamba, and Lahaul & Spiti districts. An ‘orange’ alert has been issued in Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan, Mandi and Kullu districts, and Shimla city.