It was neither raining nor gusty at the time of the accident.

Editorial: The deadly consequences of Kadir's constant tinkering with nature can be illustrated by the accident that took place on Sunday in Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh). A tree uprooted by rocks falling from a high hill, a short distance from the gurdwara there, fell on motor vehicles and pedestrians parked on the roadside. This killed six people and injured six others. The deceased include locals as well as tourists from Karnataka and Assam.

It was neither raining nor gusty at the time of the accident. Despite the absence of such a natural cause, the collapse of the mountain or the fall of rocks shows that the ecological structure of that area is not in a position to withstand unfettered human intervention.

Such signs are not new. For at least three decades, nature has been showing its wrath in response to the human havoc being unleashed in the name of development and tourism in this part of Kullu district. The highest number of incidents of cloudbursts and landslides have been occurring in this area. On three occasions, entire villages have been wiped out. Despite the full picture of the situation being revealed, the Himachal Pradesh government has not shown any seriousness in looking into the matter. Even now, they are not going to go beyond expressing regret over the deaths and announcing a small compensation.

The rise of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1980s proved to be an economic boon for Himachal Pradesh. Tourists shifted from Jammu and Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh. The influx of foreign tourists and many times more domestic tourists to this state, which is being promoted as the land of gods, increased rapidly. The people of Himachal Pradesh have become economically isolated. They either preferred to join the army for employment or wandered around for small jobs in other states. The influx of tourists has rapidly increased the number of taxis and taxi drivers, dhabas and snack stall owners, and hotels and homestays.

The number of vegetable cultivators has also increased significantly. People, especially the new generation, no longer need to travel far for employment. This spectacle of prosperity is now visible in every part of Himachal Pradesh. But for the sake of this spectacle, it is not only difficult, but impossible to compensate for the damage that this state has caused in its environmental system.

In every district of Himachal Pradesh, there are some parts which are considered to be proof of the raw age and fragility of the Dhauladhar or Shivalik mountain ranges. The Himalayas or its branches and arms may be three lakh years old, but their formation and construction is still going on. The more green they remain, the better they will prove to be for human habitation.

But reckless mining, deforestation, construction of roads and dams, construction of multi-storey buildings and constant traffic of trucks and buses even in areas that have been kept by nature devoid of human habitation have posed threats to the existence of these rugged hills. Slipping of stones and boulders due to the threat of large motor vehicles is a common phenomenon. The area from Bhuntar to Kasol and Manikaran and beyond are among the most sensitive areas. The tourism industry in this region should be strictly regulated and limited.

But the Himachal government has never paid any attention to this. On one hand, this region bears the brunt of trucks carrying Hindu and Sikh pilgrims and on the other hand, countless vehicles of tourists coming through the Manali-Tohtang-Kullu tourism package. This phenomenon is going to cost the region dearly. We should learn from the recent tragedy how cruel nature can be to those who forget the future.