• Source:JND
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Himachal Pradesh: A massive landslide has hit the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway in Himachal Pradesh, causing major disruption to traffic just four miles before Mandi. After nearly 29 hours of nonstop efforts to clear previous debris and reopen the road for one-way traffic on Sunday evening, the route was shut down again following two fresh landslides one around 11 pm Sunday night and another at 8 am Monday morning.

The recurring landslides are being attributed to persistent rainfall that has severely weakened the hill slopes in the Char Mile area. The terrain has become dangerously fragile, making it nearly impossible to contain the continuous flow of debris. According to officials, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) promptly deployed machinery for clearing operations, but the sheer volume of debris has delayed road restoration, reported Jagran.com.

Thousands of vehicles have been left stranded across various regions including Aut, Pandoh, and Balh. The affected vehicles include tourist cars, public buses, and heavy cargo trucks. Among the worst hit are truck drivers, who are struggling not only with extended delays but also with the disruption of essential goods being transported to upper Himachal regions like Kullu, Manali, and Lahaul.

The alternative routes via Gohar-Pandoh and Kamand-Kataula-Bajaura are proving to be unfeasible. “On one hand, rain and on the other hand, overloading has made these roads unsafe,” said a local official. These routes, which were considered backups, are now deteriorating rapidly due to both weather and excess traffic.

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The district administration has issued a public advisory urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and to follow real-time updates from local authorities and police departments.

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The India Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rain in the next 24 hours, keeping the threat of additional landslides high. The four-mile stretch near Mandi has become a recurrent danger zone every monsoon, posing ongoing risks to both locals and tourists navigating the mountainous roads.