Heavy rainfall causes landslides on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway
Heavy rainfall causes landslides on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway and the national Chandigarh-Manali highway. The road has been blocked since 3am, disrupting the traffic and giving a tough time to tourists. The road remained closed for about five hours and a 20 km long jam.
“The road may open any moment as heavy machinery has been deployed to clear the landslide debris .But, it will take some time to clear the traffic even after blockade is removed .There is a heavy rush of vehicles .We have rushed police and other officials to regulate smooth movement of vehicles one the debris is removed to open the road,” Deputy Commissioner of Solan, Rakesh Kanwar said
Due to over 10 big and small landslides, supplies of necessities like – milk, bread, egg and newspapers could not reach Shimla and other towns this morning.
Parwanoo DSP Bhisham said ever since the reports of landslide, construction of the four lane highway has been held to clear the road and make one-way traffic operational. Today morning at 10 am, the stretch of the affected road was in a better situation and measures to dissolve the traffic were taken.
The Solan district administration official said, the road was opened to public at 7:30 am. We ask people to be careful while travelling. The traffic has been diverted from the Bhojnagar-Kumarhatti and Jangeshu routes to ease traffic congestion.
Another landslide near th Hanogi Mata Temple on the highway lead to traffic blockage for nearly six hours, eventually bringing all vehicles to halt.
—PTC News
