India, May 29 -- Sissu, located on the banks of the Chandra River, is the first major stop in Lahaul-Spiti after exiting the Atal Tunnel. Until a few years ago, the village was known mainly for its quiet mountain life, farming and animal husbandry. Now, it is busy with tourists. The tourism industry has grown rapidly since the Atal Tunnel opened in October 2020.

Around 2,000 vehicles travel through the tunnel daily towards Sissu and Manali. During the peak tourist season, this rises to around 5,000. Tourists go boating in the artificial lake built along the river, young people zipline, off-road vehicles race through the area, and hundreds of visitors stop by every day.

But behind this beauty, an unseen danger is unsettling the people of...