Rain cuts the cord: Pangi’s lifeline bus still off the road

The suspension of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus service on the Sach Pass route after the road was damaged during heavy rains last month has left residents and travellers of the Pangi tribal subdivision in great difficulty, forcing them to depend on costly taxi services.

The only available bus service run by Keylong Depot from Chamba to Killar, the subdivisional headquarters of Pangi, remains suspended, compelling people to spend between Rs 600 and Rs 1,000 per trip in private taxis, compared to fare of Rs 432 charged by the HRTC.

The bus service which started on July 22 was suspended after heavy rains from August 23-26 wreaked havoc across Chamba district. Landslides on the treacherous route had put a brake on the bus service, which passes through 14,482-feet high Sach Pass.

Although the Public Works Department managed to clear the route for light vehicles, it is still unsafe and unfit for the movement of heavy vehicles, including buses.

Locals expressed concern that if repairs are not expedited, bus service may not resume before October 15, the date after which the route generally closes for vehicular traffic due to snow. With less than a month remaining, uncertainty looms over restoring public transport on this crucial lifeline.

Officials noted that due to the heavy rainfall last month, the Sach Pass Road was damaged on several locations making it unsafe for bus operations. The road has been opened for the light motor vehicles; however, the bus service will be restored as soon as the road receives a fitness certificate from PWD authorities.

Located in the Pir Panjal range, Sach Pass is one of the highest and most treacherous motorable mountain passes. Known for heavy snowfall and dangerous terrain, the pass generally remains open only from June to mid-October. It serves as the shortest route between Chamba and the remote Pangi valley.

Pangi valley, tucked away beyond the Sach Pass, is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most isolated tribal regions. Surrounded by high mountains and cut off for nearly six months due to snow, the valley has a population of about 25,000, spread across 19 gram panchayats. Its rugged terrain and remoteness make road connectivity a lifeline, with HRTC bus services playing a crucial role in linking the valley to the outside world.

In winter, when Sach Pass closes for traffic, the valley can be accessed only through Jammu and Kashmir or Lahaul-Spiti, making it an arduous journey of over 650 km for residents to reach the district headquarters in Chamba.