Dhaliara-Chintpurni road turns into a ‘death trap’

The Dhaliara-Chintpurni stretch of the Ranital-Mubarakpur National Highway, which is used by thousands of pilgrims and tourists daily for visiting shrines and scenic spots in Kangra, has turned into a ‘death trap’. In the past 10 years, 40 lives have been lost in road accidents on the stretch. Most victims were the pilgrims headed to shrines in Jwalamukhi, Kangra and Chamunda.

While the frequent accidents have earned a particular spot the title of ‘Khuni Mod’, the National Highways Wing of the state Public Works Department is yet to initiate steps to widen the road and realign the steep gradient.

Sources said Dehra Gopipur Subdivisional Magistrate, during a magisterial probe into an accident a few years ago, had declared the ‘Khuni Mod’ a ‘black spot’. The SDM had recommended change in alignment, but till date no action has been taken on the report.

Yesterday, a driver from Haryana was killed in an accident at ‘Khuni Mod’. The road was with state PWD earlier. However, it was declared a national highway by the Centre keeping in view the high volume of traffic on the road. It was handed over to NH wing of state PWD, which is now looking after its repair and maintenance. The road also links Kangra with Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and other parts of Punjab.

Few years ago, seven residents of Amritsar were killed when the bus in which they were travelling fell into a 50m deep gorge near Dhaliara. Ten pilgrims from Punjab were killed when a bus fell into a gorge near ‘Khuni Mod’. Six persons travelling in a tempo were killed when the driver failed to negotiate a curve.

Only yesterday, a truck carrying goods overturned at the same spot, killing the driver on the spot.

Talking to The Tribune, a senior officer of the Public Works Department admitted that the road caters to a high volume of traffic. The PWD has already sent a proposal for the widening of the road into four lanes. The matter is pending with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, the officer added.