Mandi landslide: Continuous rainfall has disrupted normal life in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, with several landslides reported from the Drang and Padhar regions on Friday. Falling debris blocked key roads, affecting vehicular movement for several hours and causing inconvenience to commuters.

Tourist car trapped under landslide debris

A major landslide occurred near Gurahala on the Barot-Ghatasani road when a large amount of debris and rocks suddenly rolled down from a hillside onto the road. A car carrying tourists from Shimla was caught beneath the debris.

Fortunately, both tourists, including the driver, managed to get out of the vehicle in time, avoiding what could have been a serious accident. The incident completely blocked the route, leading to long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road.

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Soon after receiving information about the incident, teams from the Public Works Department (PWD) reached the spot with heavy machinery. After several hours of debris removal and restoration work, the road was reopened for traffic by the afternoon. However, the administration has warned that the hillside near Gurahala remains unstable and continues to show signs of movement. People have been advised to avoid travelling on this stretch, especially during the night and to follow weather advisories issued by the Meteorological Department.

Mandi-Pathankot NH affected

Heavy rain also triggered landslides near Talgahar and Kunnu Bridge, close to Urla on the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway. At around 5 am, a large amount of debris and slush covered the highway near Talgahar, leaving a car stuck in the muddy stretch. Rescue and clearance operations continued for nearly three hours. Traffic was initially restored through a single lane before the highway was fully reopened later.

Several link roads temporarily closed

Persistent rainfall also led to the temporary closure of several link roads across the area, affecting local residents and travellers. Many commuters faced delays as road clearance work continued throughout the day.

Public advisory issued

The district administration has urged residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather conditions. People have also been advised to remain alert while passing through landslide-prone areas and to follow official weather updates before planning their journey.