Heavy rain triggers landslides, McLeodganj road blocked

Moderate to heavy rain lashed Dharamsala, McLeodganj and its surrounding areas in Kangra district since early Wednesday morning, causing widespread damage and disruptions.

The Dharamsala-McLeodganj-Khada Danda road was blocked near Delek Hospital run by the Tibetan Government-in-exile following a massive landslide. The Dharamsala-McLeodganj bypass was already closed for heavy vehicles due to earlier subsidence.

Hemraj Bairwa, Kangra District Commissioner-cum-Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, issued orders to temporary suspend all activities/services of the Dharamsala-McLeodganj ropeway project after a landslide near its pillar No. 5. The order stated that the ropeway operations could pose a serious risk to passenger safety in view of the incident.

SDM (Civil), Dharamsala, Mohit Rattan had been directed to constitute a technical committee to inspect the site. The panel would include geological experts from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamsala, representatives of various departments and Municipal Corporation officials. It is expected to submit its report within two days. The decision to resume or continue the suspension of the ropeway operations would be taken on the basis of the committee’s findings.

Meanwhile, three shops were damaged on the National Highway-503 near Dhaliara in Dehra of Kangra district in a landslide. Revenue Department officials inspected the site to assess the losses. In Nurpur subdivision, a portion of a house in Charudi village collapsed following incessant rain. The Baijnath-Deol road was also blocked following landslides.

The Barot-Ghatasani main road, which links Chhota Bhangal to the Chauhar valley, was blocked at Shilhaswad after a massive tree fell on it and was later cleared with the help of a JCB machine. The Multhan-Lohardi road was reopened for traffic after many hours but it was still vulnerable to landslides.