Landslide blocks Manali road for 6 hours

Tribune News Service

Mandi, July 22

A massive landslide near Pandoh blocked the Chandigarh-Manali highway around 9 am today. Though the traffic was restored after six hours, threat is still persisting because the area is prone to landslide during rains.

Commuters remained stranded for hours. The traffic was diverted via Kamand-Katoula route between Mandi and Kullu.

The NHAI authorities engaged its workforce and machinery to clear the road which took around six hours for the traffic movement to ease out.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mandi, Hitesh Lakhanpal, said due to massive landslide near Pandoh, the NH was blocked around 9 am. However, after one hour, it was opened partially for a single-lane traffic, the road was cleared at 3 pm.

Additional District Magistrate, Mandi, Rajiv Kumar, said an advisory had been issued to the people to drive cautiously, while moving on this route during the rainy season and the NHAI authorities were also asked to keep a close vigil. Police personnel were also deployed at key locations to monitor the situation.

Last week, too, a major landslide was reported at Hanogi in which shops and part of the Hanogi temple were damaged.