Manali road blocked, tourists stranded

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, July 12

Tourists travelling on the Chandigarh-Manali-Leh highway were today stranded for hours at different locations due to flash floods and landslides in the region. The highway was blocked near Pandoh in Mandi because of a massive landslide. Besides, a landslide near Aut hampered traffic on the highway.

The alternative road leading to Kullu from Mandi via Kataula was also blocked because of landslides at Kanoj. The police had stopped the traffic movement in view of public safety.

Additional District Magistrate, Mandi, Rajiv Kumar said the machinery and workforce had been deployed to restore the Chandigarh-Manali highway and the alternative Mandi-Kullu road. Heavy rain damaged 47 transformers in the district, a cowshed, two houses in the district but no loss of life was reported. Till filing of the report, the Chandigarh-Manali highway was blocked. The SP, Lahaul and Spiti, said no vehicles were stuck on the Manali-Leh highway.

Due to a downpour since morning, the streams flowing along the Manali-Leh highway were in spate, hampering traffic. The Telling Nullah, Pagal Nullah and the Bharatpur Nullah were flooded since noon, blocking traffic for hours.

The police informed the BRO to mobilise its local units and help the stranded people. The road to Killar in Chamba district from Udaipur was also blocked.

The SP, Lahaul and Spiti, said the condition of the roads was not safe for travelling. People were advised to travel only if necessary. Only tourists with bookings in Lahaul were being allowed.

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