Kinnaur, one of Himachal Pradesh's most ecologically fragile regions, is under threat from widespread construction activity for hydroelectric power projects. Landslides have become a common occurrence putting lives of villagers to severe environmental risk.
A War Zone in Kinnaur
National highway 5—a stretch of 10 km from Powari to Ralli in Kinnaur District, on the right side of the Sutlej River—looked like a war zone. Vehicles kept skidding on its mucky surface. That the edge of the road was lined with grey muck and debris, made it particularly vulnerable to road accidents.