Big landslide blocks traffic on Chandigarh-Manali highway

Traffic on the busy Chandigarh-Manali National Highway came to a halt following a massive landslide near the 4 Miles area in Mandi. The landslide occurred around midnight, blocking both lanes and leaving hundreds of vehicles on either side of the road stranded.

Heavy rain in the region has made the area highly vulnerable to landslides, posing high risks to commuters. The highway, a critical route for tourists and locals travelling to Kullu, Manali and beyond, has witnessed repeated disruptions over the past few days due to continuous rainfall and unstable slopes.

According to officials, the NHAI has deployed its workforce and heavy machinery early this morning to begin the work of clearing debris. After several hours of work, the road was partially restored for vehicular movement around 2 pm today. However, only one side of the highway is currently operational and movement is being regulated to ensure safety.

This is the second consecutive day when traffic has been affected at the same spot. On Sunday, a similar landslide had blocked the highway for nearly 26 hours before it was cleared, only for the fresh debris to obstruct the road again hours later.

Local authorities have urged commuters to exercise caution while travelling on this route. “Due to the ongoing rainfall and the high risk of further landslides, we request commuters to stay alert, follow traffic advisories,” said a police spokesperson.

Himachal Tribune