Apple truck falls into Sheelabagh khud

An apple-laden trailer plunged into Sheelabagh Khud in Sirmaur district’s Rajgarh subdivision around 1 am on Wednesday when the road caved in while giving way to another vehicle on the Sanora-Neripur-Chaila road. The incident occurred during peak apple transportation season, adding to mounting safety concerns.

Local resident Manish Bhagnal said that soon after the mishap, villagers and drivers of other apple trucks rushed to rescue the injured driver. He was given first aid at a nearby health centre, and his condition is now reported to be stable. This marks the seventh accident involving apple trucks on this stretch in the past month.

Just three days ago, local residents had staged a protest against the deteriorating condition of the road and the movement of heavy trailers far exceeding its capacity. The road, originally designed by the PWD for vehicles weighing up to 9 tonnes, is being used during apple season by trailers carrying 30 to 40 tonnes of produce.

During the harvest period, traffic density on this narrow road spikes to an estimated 12,000–15,000 vehicles per day, compared to about 3,000 vehicles on normal days. The situation often leads to prolonged traffic jams lasting several hours, with heavily loaded trucks and trailers blocking the passage. The Sanora–Neripur–Chaila route is a critical link for transporting apples from upper Shimla district to markets across the country via Sirmaur.

Recent heavy rains over the past month have worsened the already fragile condition of the road, increasing the risk of accidents. The narrow width and unstable edges make it particularly dangerous for overloaded trailers.

Rajgarh Police Station in-charge Rajvinder Singh said the police had not yet received information about the incident.