When the road gave way: Dharamsala awaits a bridge of hope

It had been 25 days since the Khara-Danda road near Jogibara disappeared under the crushing force of a massive landslide. Once the lifeline connecting Dharamsala to McLeodganj, the road now lay in ruins — a broken path echoing with silence and the struggle of a severed connection. Even pedestrians found the route perilous, scrambling over loose stones and slippery mud, as the shortest link between upper and lower Dharamsala stood cut off.

Since its complete collapse on August 20, locals have been left with no option but to take a gruelling 13-km detour. For many — especially the elderly and daily commuters — the loss has been more than an inconvenience; it has been a daily hardship.

Recognising the urgency, Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa directed the Public Works Department to act without delay. Executive Engineer Dinesh Kumar responded with a promise: within a week, a steel pedestrian bridge would be erected to provide immediate relief. While full vehicular restoration would take longer, the bridge offered a vital first step towards reconnecting lives.

As iron girders arrived and workers began their task, a quiet optimism returned. Locals, recalling the old camel trails once favoured by tourists, felt an odd comfort. For now, without the roar of engines, walking this road once again promised a rare, if fragile, peace.