Landslip blocks Manali NH, traffic hit for 3 hours

Our Correspondent

Kullu, January 19

The Kullu-Manali National Highway remained closed for traffic for almost three hours following a landslide in the Seobagh area, 6 km from here, today.

The road was blocked around 9.15 am due to which commuters had to face a lot of hassles. Small vehicles opted to travel via the left bank by crossing the bridge at Raison while some vehicles went back to Patlikul. Long queues of vehicles were seen at Seobagh due to the landslide resulting in a major traffic jam. The long-route buses were delayed and the road was restored to traffic around 12.15 pm.

Traffic jams were witnessed on the left bank road and most of the traffic was diverted through the alternate route. The NHAI was carrying out cutting of the hills along the road to broaden the national highway due to which the strata at many places had become loose. Commuters alleged that long traffic jams were witnessed as the broadening work was being undertaken in an unplanned manner. The police said efforts were being made to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the highway construction work.

Abhishek Rai, president, Himalayan Environment Conservation Organisation (HECO), an NGO, said many trees had been axed for the widening of the road between Kullu and Manali. He alleged that the companies executing the work were cutting the sides of the hills on a large scale and this would result in frequent landslides due to the fragile ecology of the area.

He said many houses in Devdhar village adjoining Kullu town had been recently damaged by the excavation of hillside for the widening of the road. He claimed that the NHAI was flouting norms and dumping muck in the Beas. He added that he would approach the National Green Tribunal and apprise it about the damage caused to the environment.

Residents of villages between Kullu and Manali rued that there was lot of dust due to the construction work which was a health hazard. Commuters said there were a lot of dangerous points due to the ongoing construction work where no caution signboards had been put up.

Traffic diverted  

• Jams were witnessed on the left bank road and most of the traffic was diverted through the alternate route. 
• The NHAI is carrying out the cutting of the hills along the road to broaden the national highway due to which the strata at many places has become loose.
• Commuters alleged that long traffic jams were witnessed as the broadening work was being undertaken in an unplanned manner.