Over 2,000 vehicles stranded in Mandi and Kullu as rains continue to lash Himachal, triggering landslides
PTC Web Desk: Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh is reeling under the impact of relentless torrential rains, which have unleashed a wave of landslides, crippling road connectivity and displacing several families. Essential services remain disrupted as more than 257 roads across the region lie blocked, leaving many areas inaccessible.
The Kiratpur–Manali four-lane highway, a crucial lifeline for traffic to Kullu-Manali, Lahaul-Spiti, and Leh-Ladakh, has been shut for the second consecutive day after multiple landslides struck between Mandi and Banala. With the alternative Kataula route also closed due to fresh slides, thousands of commuters and tourists remain stranded in Mandi and Kullu. Officials estimate over 2,000 vehicles are stuck in the area, worsening the transport crisis.
The blockade has dealt a severe blow to vegetable growers in Lahaul and Spiti, who are unable to transport their produce to markets. As a result, crops are rotting in fields, endangering farmers’ seasonal earnings and threatening to affect vegetable supplies in other parts of Himachal Pradesh and beyond.
In a separate incident, panic gripped residents near Paddal Gurdwara in Mandi after a rockfall damaged two houses on Monday evening. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as families managed to evacuate in time. Mandi Municipal Commissioner Rohit Rathour confirmed that the slope behind the colony remains unstable and the area has been vacated as a precaution. The two affected families have been relocated, while neighbouring households voluntarily shifted to safer locations.
Meanwhile, in Kullu’s Manali region, two individuals were rescued on Tuesday after their vehicle met with an accident caused by unstable road conditions. Authorities report several similar incidents across the district but confirmed that no fatalities have occurred so far.
District officials have urged residents to avoid vulnerable slopes and immediately report signs of soil instability.
With weather forecasts predicting more rain in the coming days, the risk of additional landslides looms large. The administration has appealed for public cooperation and strict adherence to safety advisories to minimize further risk.
- With inputs from agencies
