Landslip blocks key Shimla road, traffic diverted

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 19

A massive landslide near Boileauganj affected traffic movement on the Shimla-Boileauganj road today. Meanwhile, cracks have developed on the Boileauganj-Vidhan Sabha road and people have been advised against travelling on this road.

The Shimla-Boileauganj road was closed when debris from hillside fell on the road. At that time, several people were present on the spot, but were able to move to safety. Teams of the district administration Shimla police reached the spot and started the restoration work.

Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said machinery had been deployed and the debris was being cleared from the site. Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said the traffic to Boileauganj had been diverted from Tutikandi Chowk via Chakkar road.

The road connects Himachal Pradesh University in Summer Hill to the rest of the town. Hundreds of students as well as office-goers commute through this road to reach the university as well as their offices. Besides, people from Boileauganj and Summer Hill also use the road to visit the other parts of the town, including Sanjauli, Chhota Shimla, Malyana and other areas.

The road is one of the busiest stretches of the town with traffic movement reaching its peak during in the morning and evening hours.

Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi also reached the site to take stock of the situation.

The DC said while the road had been blocked due to the landslide, the debris is falling continuously. In such a situation, no one can be put in danger for the restoration work, he added.

"Until the falling of the debris stops, it will not be an easy task to restore the road," he added.

The appealed to residents to cooperate with the district administration by commuting through alternative routes till the traffic is restored on the road.