Chaos in Nangal as Una bans mining trucks at night

A ban imposed by the Una district administration of Himachal Pradesh on the movement of mining trucks during night hours has sparked road safety concerns in Punjab’s Nangal, the border town now choked by long queues of parked heavy vehicles.

Residents say the town has turned into a “night-time parking spot” for the truckers, who fetch the mining material from the neighbouring state for sale in Punjab.

The ban comes after the Una administration faced flak following the recent shooting of a Congress leader, an incident allegedly linked to a rivalry over mining activities.

Following the incident, the administration banned the plying of mining trucks between 5 pm and 6 am, forcing the drivers to park their vehicles on the road connecting Una and Nangal on both sides of the state border. Nangal resident said the situation worsened in the past a few days.

“Long queues of trucks, many of these loaded with mined material, choke the road every night. Hardly any space is left for regular commuters. It is a massive traffic hazard,” Nangal Municipal councillor Paramjit Singh Pamma said.

Pamma urged the Ropar district administration to take strict action against illegal parking of mining vehicles and prevent Nangal from becoming a casualty of the Una administration''s decision.

Residents say the danger extends beyond inconvenience. Raman Sharma, a local resident, warned that allowing such heavy vehicles to park in narrow stretches could lead to fatal accidents.

“The administration cannot allow Nangal to become a parking spot for Himachal’s mining industry. If one of these heavy vehicles loses balance or if visibility decreases at night, it can cause a serious mishap,” he said.

With little choice left due to the night-time travel restriction, truck drivers are arriving in Nangal in the evening and wait till the morning in their parked vehicles to avoid day-time traffic in a bid to make up for the lost hours.

When contacted, Ropar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Singh Walia acknowledged the issue and assured action. He said instructions would be issued to the Nangal administration and transport authorities to act against trucks parked illegally along the roads. “The local administration will be directed to take necessary steps to ensure smooth traffic movement and prevent unsafe parking of mining vehicles in border towns,” he said.