Ambika Sharma
Solan, August 23
The Balad bridge connecting Baddi with Haryana was badly damaged today. One of its piers collapsed and the bridge got bent in the middle after heavy rain. Huge cracks were visible on its surface following which even the pedestrian movement had been suspended across the bridge, said Baddi DSP Priyank Gupta.
A portion of the bridge’s foundation had eroded in an earlier rainy spell, though it was repaired later. A lot of damage has been caused to the bridge this time. The traffic police advised the commuters travelling to this industrial cluster to use the arterial route through Marrawala-Barotiwala.
With key roads like Nalagarh-Swarghat, Ramsheher-Swarghat, Ramshehar-Gambhar Pul, Ramshehar-Shimla, Ramshehar-Nalagarh and Baddi-Ramshehar (via Sai) having been blocked, the administration advised the residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
In another part of Solan district, vehicular traffic through Chakki Mod on the Parwanoo-Dharampur national highway (NH-5) was hit due to reoccurring landslides. Men and machine were deployed to clear debris that continued to flow down on to the highway throughout the day.
A highway and some villages also face threat as Bahra University sewage treatment plant located on a nearby hill became vulnerable following a massive landslide this morning.
The authorities said if the plant got damaged, it would cause a massive damage to the highway and the villages situated downhill.
The administration has requested the staff of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to construct a retaining wall for the safety of the public and the students, said Solan DC Manmohan Sharma. Thirty-two houses have been completely damaged, while 10 have suffered partial damage in the district since yesterday.
Heavy rain also led to the blocking of the Subathu-Dharampur road at Gaddon. Mounds of slush flowed into the nearby houses, while some vehicles were also swept away. No loss of life has, however, been reported in the district so far.
Several roads, including Chambaghat-Kandaghat (via Basal), Dharampur-Kasauli (via Pinegrove School), Dharampur-Kanda, Parwanoo- Jangeshu-Kasauli, remained closed for several hours following landslides.
A electricity transformer has been damaged at Mashobra in Kasauli, while several houses suffered damage at Banehar, Shattal and Dhali villages in Solan due to incessant rain.
Roads blocked
32 houses completely damaged
Alternative route plan
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