Landslide blocks one lane of Chandigarh-Dharamsala highway

A landslide triggered by incessant rain blocked the Chandigarh-Dharamsala National Highway near the Bathu bridge at Ranital today. One lane of the highway was completely shut after debris fell on it while traffic movement continued via the second lane. This is the main highway that links Chandigarh, Una, Hamirpur and Shimla to Dharamsala city.

Fortunately, no life was lost and no vehicle was damaged in the landslide that occurred at a site where a hillside was cut for the road’s expansion. Though the road construction company had installed interlocking nets to prevent rocks from falling, boulders pierced through the them and landed on the road.

A senior official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that debris would be removed from the highway soon once the weather gets clear.

Meanwhile, the Dharamsala–McLeodganj road, a vital link with the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, was again damaged due to continuous rainfall. Deep cracks surfaced on the Khadadanda road with reports of multiple sections caving in, raising the risk of further damages if rain continued.

Drivers are commuting on this road with extreme caution amid the fear of sudden subsidence. The road was upgraded and freshly paved last year but now it was riddled with potholes and broken culverts, especially near the Khadadanda bend.

Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Vikas Sood said that the repair work would begin as soon as the weather improves. Instructions had already been issued to field officials in this connection, he added.

Meanwhile, Vinod Kumar (40), a resident of Bhatwara in Kangra district, died of a snakebite during the past 24 hours, a spokesman for the district administration said here.