Road restoration work picks up as weather clears in Mandi district

As weather conditions improved over the past two days, the Public Works Department (PWD) in Mandi has intensified efforts to restore road connectivity disrupted due to recent heavy rain. As of now, out of 315 roads that were blocked due to landslides and flashfloods in the district, 155 have been restored for vehicular movement.

PWD officials said the restoration work was progressing on a war footing. Teams had been deployed in various affected divisions to ensure that blocked roads were cleared as quickly as possible. Special attention was being paid to routes that were crucial for local transport and agricultural activities.

Mandi DC Apoorv Devgan, who is overseeing the progress of the restoration work, said that the reopening of all remaining blocked roads was the top priority, especially in view of the ongoing apple harvesting season. “The primary goal is to ensure that farmers are able to transport their horticultural produce, particularly apple, to mandis and markets without delay,” he added.

The road closures have severely impacted rural connectivity, affecting not only the transportation of goods but also access to essential services. The worst-hit areas include Seraj division where 64 roads are still blocked, followed by Thalaut (42), Karsog (13), Dharampur (11), Mandi (9) and Sarkaghat (7). A few other roads are blocked in scattered locations in the district.

Landslides triggered by the recent spell of monsoon rain disrupted both state and rural roads. The hilly terrain of Mandi district makes restoration efforts challenging, often requiring the use of heavy earth-moving machinery and manual labour in inaccessible areas.