Chandigarh-Manali national highway restored after 14 hrs

Mandi, August 12

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The Chandigarh-Manali highway was restored for normal traffic between Mandi and Kullu around 10:30 am after a gap of almost 14 hours. This highway was blocked for traffic movement on Wednesday night around 8:15 pm, when a landslide occurred near Pandoh in Mandi.

In that incident, landslide hit a truck crossing the area, which fell down in a deep gorge. The driver of the truck was trapped under the debris. He was rescued by district administration’s team and rushed to zonal hospital Mandi for medical treatment, where his condition is stated to be stable.

Hundreds of vehicles remained stuck in the area the whole night. The district administration diverted traffic on alternate route via Kataula for the movement of light vehicles. The National Highways Authority of India expedited the restoration work of the highway by engaging its workforce and machinery at landslide spot near Pandoh and restored the highway around 10:30 am. Additional Superintendent of Police Mandi Ashish Sharma said that the people traveling on the Chandigarh-Manali highway are advised to drive cautiously, while traveling particularly between Mandi and Kullu. Due on the ongoing construction work of fourlaning, the entire stretch between Mandi and Aut becomes prone to landslide during rainy days. — TNS