Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc in Himachal, landslide on NH5 halts traffic
Life in Himachal Pradesh has been turned upside down by relentless heavy rainfall, causing significant disruptions and damage across the state. One of the most severe impacts has been a major landslide on the Rampur-Kinnaur National Highway (NH-5) at Nigulsari, which has brought traffic to a complete halt.
The continuous downpour has triggered numerous landslides, leading to road closures, fallen trees, and damaged infrastructure. The landslide at Nigulsari has created a massive bottleneck for thousands of residents and commuters who depend on NH-5. The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing landslides from the upper hills, making it nearly impossible to clear the highway, which has been blocked for several days. Efforts to restore the road were further hindered on Wednesday morning when boulders fell on the machinery deployed for clearing, damaging the equipment and putting the operator at risk. Thankfully, the operator escaped unhurt.
The landslide activity intensified late Tuesday evening and continued without pause throughout Wednesday, leaving the highway completely blocked and vehicles stranded. Authorities are facing significant challenges in their efforts to restore normalcy on this crucial route.
In Shimla, the capital city, heavy rain has led to multiple incidents of trees falling and damage to buildings. On Tuesday night, three trees collapsed in different parts of the city, including a large cedar tree that fell on the Directorate of Information and Public Relations building in Chhota Shimla, causing considerable damage. In another incident, heavy rain washed away a section of the road in Kuftadhar, Rulda Bhatta ward.
Kullu district has also been hit hard by the heavy rainfall, resulting in the closure of 16 roads due to landslides and debris. In Solan, the Solan-Minas road was blocked for 13 hours before being cleared. Rainfall was recorded in various parts of the state on Wednesday, with Shimla receiving 2 mm, Dalhousie 4 mm, Mandi 1 mm, and Kalpa 2 mm. However, the weather remained clear in other areas.
The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for continued rainfall today, warning residents of potential further disruptions. Stay safe and stay informed as the situation develops.