Massive landslide on NH near Kotla in Kangra, traffic movement restored after 12 hours

The alleged reckless vertical hill-cutting for the construction of a four-laned project at Bhali in Seuni-Rajol NHAI’s section near Kotla in Jawali subdivision of Kangra district has started showing its impact.

A massive landslide triggered on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway last evening (6.30 pm), blocking the highway for over 12 hours. Hundreds of private and public transport vehicles got stuck in the traffic jam.

The machinery of the construction company was pressed into service immediately after the blockade but was the work was affected due to relentless rainfall at night. A light vehicle with two occupants got trapped in the debris while crossing the spot but it was safely dragged out and occupants were rescued by locals with the help of the construction company’s machinery.

According to Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa, the district administration had received information about the blockade at 8.45 pm on Tuesday and immediately diverted the traffic from Sanoura Chowk towards Batees Meel for vehicles moving from Kangra towards Pathankot and the traffic from Chamba towards Pathankot was diverted from Dramman towards Sanoura Chowk to Lunj. The traffic from Pathankot towards Kangra-Dharamshala was diverted from Batees Meel to Ranital and Batees Meel to Lunj-Sanoura link road.

The Tribune had earlier highlighted the plight of eight families residing on the roadside hill top in Bhaniad ward under Bhali gram panchayat who were under the constant threat of landslides on July 12. They have been voicing their concern over landslides in their area ever since a five-storey building collapsed in Shimla on June 30.

The NHAI had offered them house rents for their temporary relocation from the village and also assessed compensation of their houses reeling under constant threat of landslides. Aman Rana, a resident of Takhinar village in the panchayat, who has been raising environmental concerns after the alleged unscientific hilltop cutting near their area, said the NHAI had sanctioned Rs 3,000 monthly rent to only one affected family which had vacated after his house had collapsed due to land sliding.

He urged the administration to relocate the remaining seven families to safer places and ensure early disbursal of the assessed compensation amount to all affected families so that they could arrange for their roofs in safer locations. The local residents and daily commuters alleged that the construction company had not implemented any protective measures such as wire netting, rock bolting and other landslide prevention technologies on the excavated slopes despite this area being recognised as a landslide-prone stretch.