- 160-meter, three-layer wall for landslide prevention.
- .Rs 39 crore project on Mandi-Kullu Highway.
- Ensures safer, uninterrupted travel to Manali.
Jagran Correspodent | Mandi: Travelling to Manali will become much safer, as a 160-metre-long, three-layer retaining wall is set to be constructed to reduce landslides in the area. The initiative will secure the vulnerable "Nau Mile" stretch of the Mandi-Kullu National Highway, ensuring smooth traffic movement even during the monsoon season.
Safer Vehicular Movement
The project is expected to strengthen the hillside and prevent loose rocks and debris from reaching the roadside. Meanwhile, the elevated road width will ensure safer vehicular movement in the stretch. Technical procedures for the construction are currently underway.
Once constructed, the debris falling along the route won't affect the roadway, easing traffic in the area. The initiative is also likely to eliminate frequent closures of the national highway during rains.
Himachal's Unpredictable Weather
Himachal Pradesh witnesses very unpredictable weather. Winters are freezing and snowy, making it a winter wonderland, while summers are pleasantly cool and attract people looking to escape the heat of the plains. However, during the monsoon months (July to September), the state receives heavy rainfall. The mountains are steep, causing sudden floods and landslides.
What makes the weather tricky is how fast it changes from one hill to the next. One could start his day under a clear blue sky in a valley but quickly run into heavy fog, rain, or falling rocks as one drives higher up. While this rainy weather keeps the state's forests green and rivers flowing, it also makes travelling risky. Projects like the new wall in Manali therefore ensure safety for the tourists and the locals as well.
The Indian Meteorological Department said moderate to heavy rain at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh over the next 24 hours, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds likely to affect several districts, the report said.
ALSO READ: Himachal Rains: 291 Roads Blocked, National Highways Shut; 95 Dead Since June | IMD Forecast
Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts, the report quoted the IMD as saying, while light to moderate rain is expected across the state's low hills, plains and mid-hill regions, with light rainfall likely at isolated spots in the higher reaches.