Hill crumbles, highway halted: 4th landslide in 10 days on NH-707

Himachal Pradesh continues to suffer the dual blows of natural and man-made disasters during the ongoing monsoon season. On Wednesday morning, a massive landslide blocked the Paonta Sahib-Shillai-Gumma-Fedizpul stretch of National Highway 707, as tonnes of debris and boulders came crashing down from a hill near Shillai at Tikkar.

Advertisement

Eyewitnesses reported that the hill suddenly began to crumble and within moments, a huge amount of debris buried the highway under layers of rock and soil. Fortunately, no vehicles were passing through the affected stretch at the time and no people were present downhill, averting a potential tragedy. This is the fourth major landslide reported in this section over the past 10 days. Videos of the landslide are circulating widely on social media, drawing attention to the recurring vulnerability of this highway.

In response, the local administration has advised light vehicles to temporarily use the Gangtoli-Naya-Shillai road as an alternative route. Meanwhile, heavy vehicles have been instructed to take the longer route via Vikasnagar-Haripur-Minus in neighbouring Uttarakhand to reach their destinations safely. Authorities have also appealed to the public to avoid non-essential travel during the rainy season due to increased landslide risks.

Experts and local residents have blamed unscientific hill cutting practices for the frequent landslides along this stretch. The repeated collapses, they say, are the direct result of poor slope management and the destabilisation of fragile hillsides during road widening works.

Adding to the concern, a recent incident in Gangtoli revealed that sections of the hill were illegally blasted with heavy gelatin. Locals allege this reckless activity, undertaken without proper geological assessments or permits, has severely weakened the slope and made the area extremely dangerous for commuters.

Despite repeated incidents, long-term mitigation measures such as proper slope stabilisation, controlled excavation and geological assessments remain absent. Locals are now demanding strict regulatory oversight and accountability to prevent further disasters in the region.