Landslides in Sirmaur district disrupt traffic on NH-707, Health Dept vehicle, truck damaged

Traffic on the Paonta Sahib-Shillai-Gumma-Fedizpul National Highway 707 was severely disrupted this morning following two separate landslides in Sirmaur district. The first incident occurred near Kali Dhang, close to Hevna in Kaffota sub-division, where heavy debris from a hillside blocked the road from 8.30 am to 11.30 am. Another landslide struck near Shillai market, halting vehicular movement for nearly an hour.

At Kali Dhang, a Bolero belonging to the Paonta Sahib Health Department and a truck were caught in the sudden landslide, sustaining significant damage. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported. Large boulders and heavy muck tumbled onto the road, trapping heavy vehicles in long queues for hours.

The ongoing construction of the state’s first green corridor along this route has often led to road closures and continuous heavy rains over the past month have further compounded the problem. According to locals, the Paonta Sahib-Shillai-Gumma-Fedizpul highway has been under construction for the past three years and frequently faces blockages.

The landslide also affected the movement of trucks transporting apples from Shimla district and vegetables from the Shillai Assembly segment to markets, along with buses carrying passengers. Many vehicles were stranded for nearly three hours before the route was cleared.

Local social worker Nathu Ram Chauhan, who narrowly escaped the incident, said he had crossed the spot just 20 minutes before the landslide. His own vehicle was hit by falling stones, causing substantial damage. He alleged that landslides occur daily at some point along the highway and road restoration by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the private construction companies often takes hours, causing serious inconvenience to commuters.

Kaffota SDM OP Thakur confirmed that the highway was restored within three hours. However, local residents and travellers expressed frustration, calling the highway a constant source of trouble due to the prolonged construction and frequent closures.