After two days of complete disruption, road restoration work begins in Mandi dist

After two days of complete disruption due to heavy rains and landslides, transportation services in Mandi district are gradually being restored. Over 200 roads, including the vital Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway, were blocked across the district, leaving hundreds of visitors and locals stranded.

According to Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, the Mandi-Kullu stretch of the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway, which had been blocked at multiple locations such as Aut, Panarsa, Takoli, and Thalout since Sunday, was reopened for traffic late in the afternoon today. The local administration, with the help of various departments and agencies, coordinated extensive operations to clear debris and landslides from the highway, enabling safe passage of vehicles.

During the road blockade, nearly 1,300 persons, including domestic and international tourists, were stranded across different parts of Mandi and Kullu. All stranded individuals have now been safely evacuated.

The district administration faced significant challenges, especially in rural areas, where apple growers were unable to transport their produce to markets on time. Efforts are ongoing to restore connectivity in these regions to prevent further economic losses to growers.

“In Drang Assembly constituency, heavy rainfall and a flashflood near Batheri severely affected three families as road link to their area was snapped. SDM Sadar Rupinder Kaur visited the site and ensured supply of essential goods, including ration. Restoration of the road to Batheri is being undertaken on a war footing by the Public Works Department. The damaged pedestrian bridge will soon be reconstructed under the District Rural Development Agency,” the DC said.

“Due to safety concerns, Batheri Senior Secondary School and Sanwar primary and middle schools have been ordered shut until further order,” he added.

“The Mandi-Pathankot National Highway-154 has also been thrown open. Precautionary deployment of machinery and manpower has been ensured at landslide-prone zones, especially between Drang and Ghatasani. SDM Padhar Surjeet Singh has been directed to oversee relief operations on this stretch,” he remarked.

“To enhance early warning systems, landslide sensors have been installed in Kotrupi, a high-risk zone between Ghatasani and Narla. Home Guard personnel have also been stationed to assist in emergency response. Incidents of tree fall continue to be reported with fire services and local departments working in tandem to clear road obstructions,” he asserted.