After a week, Chowari-Lahru link road restored for light vehicles

The Public Works Department (PWD) restored the damaged road stretch between Chowari and Lahru connecting Nurpur and other parts of Kangra and neighbouring Pathankot (Punjab) districts last evening for light vehicles, but the threat of road sinking and landslides still looms large due to the fragile hilly terrain.

The commuters travelling on two-wheelers and light motor vehicles heaved a sigh of relief after partial restoration of this 5km road stretch which is considered a lifeline for the inhabitants of Chowari sub-division in neighboring Chamba district. However, the PWD machinery has restored road connectivity by erasing the roadside hill.

A 100m stretch of the 5km Chowari-Lahru link road was badly damaged due to land sinking on August 1. Landslides were also triggered on the alternative route — Chowari-Raipur-Lahru link road — the same day, snapping the entire road connectivity to this sub-division. But the PWD restored that link road after clearing the landslide debris within 24 hours. Commuters had to travel an additional 25 km to reach Chowari by using this alternative route.

After temporary restoration of the damaged Chowari-Lahru stretch, commuters using light vehicles felt relieved, but heavy transport vehicles still have to cover additional 25 km on the Chowari- Raipur- Lahru detour to reach their destinations.

The Chowari-Lahru road has been under constant threat of landslides in the monsoons ever since torrential rain had washed away 60m road stretch in August 2022. After closing this road for some days, the PWD had managed to restore it, but did not take effective steps to prevent soil erosion in the area. Just after three years, the road has sunk and damaged a 100m road stretch.

Abhishek Chambial, Ankit Thakur and Sahil Sharma, residents of Chowari and regular commuters on this road stretch, have demanded a concrete plan for the safety and protection of this fragile road stretch from soil erosion and its sinking.

Narinder Chowdhary, Executive Engineer, PWD division Chowari, told The Tribune that the metalling of the restored road stretch would be undertaken after monsoon. Till then, only light vehicles would be allowed to use this link road. He added that the PWD was also planning to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the safety and protection of the sinking road stretch.