Rocks block Kinnaur highway for 28 hours

ibune News Service
Shimla, July 22

Hundreds of commuters had remained stranded near Bhawanagar in Kinnaur for the past 28 hours due to a massive rockslide that blocked the Shimla-Rampur-Kinnaur-Kaurik National Highway, earlier known as the Hindustan-Tibet road.

Residents said the rockslide was triggered due to unscientific cutting of the hill by the contractor, who had widened the road a few months back. The vehicular movement was affected beyond Jhakri, causing hardships to people of Kinnaur. More than 10 rocks and debris fell on the road last evening, but no casualty was reported, said PWD Executive Engineer Prakash Negi, who was monitoring the restoration work on the spot.

Negi said they had drilled the rocks to make holes for blasting. “We will carry blasting to make the road clear for traffic. We hope the road will be restored late night,” he added.

SP, Kinnaur, SR Rana told The Tribune that the passengers, travelling in buses, were being evacuated. “There was no patient stuck in the jam and we have sounded people and tourists not to travel beyond Rampur and from Kinnaur towards Rampur until the road is restored,” he added.

Even the highway beyond Powari, which comes under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), has remained blocked for hours daily due to widening work on the road.

Road widening to blame

• More than 10 huge rocks fell on the road last evening
• The traffic was affected beyond Jhakri, causing hardships to people
• Residents blamed the contractor for unscientific cutting of the hill for widening of the road