Highway to hazard: Landslide halts traffic on NH for 12 hrs

The unchecked vertical hill cutting for the four-lane project under the NHAI near Bhali in the Seuni-Rajol section has begun to reveal dangerous consequences. On Tuesday around 6.30 pm, a massive landslide struck the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway (NH-154) near Kotla, blocking traffic for nearly 12 hours and stranding hundreds of vehicles overnight.

Debris and large boulders rolled down the slopes, creating a long traffic snarl that disrupted both private and public transport. A car with two occupants was caught in the slide but was successfully rescued by locals, with help from the construction company’s machinery.

Though the construction company initiated restoration work immediately, heavy overnight rainfall severely delayed operations. According to Kangra DC Hemraj Bairwa, the administration was informed at 8.45 pm and we promptly rerouted traffic. Vehicles heading from Kangra to Pathankot were diverted via Sanoura Chowk and Batees Meel, while traffic from Chamba was rerouted from Dramman to Lunj. Pathankot-bound vehicles were redirected through alternate routes to Ranital and the Sanoura link road.

This incident adds weight to ongoing local concerns about the environmental impact of the unscientific excavation for road widening. On July 12, The Tribune had reported the plight of eight poor families living atop a vulnerable hill in Bhaniad ward of Bhali Gram Panchayat. These families have been living under constant fear of landslides, especially after a five-storey building collapse in Shimla on June 30.

Despite repeated appeals, only one of the families —whose house collapsed — has been provided a monthly rent of Rs 3,000 by NHAI for temporary relocation.

Aman Rana, a resident of nearby Takhinar village and a vocal environmental advocate, criticised the authorities for failing to act responsibly.

“Despite this being a known landslide-prone stretch, the construction company has not installed even basic protective measures like wire netting or rock bolting,” he said.

He urged the administration to expedite the relocation of the remaining seven families and ensure disbursal of assessed compensation, so they can rebuild their lives in safer areas. The growing unrest among local residents highlights a deeper issue—lack of accountability and insufficient disaster preparedness in infrastructure projects cutting through ecologically sensitive zones. As monsoon intensifies, concerns continue to mount over the safety of both the highway and the people living along it.