Two national highways in Himachal blocked after landslides

Tribune News Service
Mandi/Shimla, September 12

Landslides after heavy and persistent rain blocked National Highway 305 in Kullu’s Shojha and two on NH 5 in Shimla district, officials said 

The landslide in Kullu has caused traffic to come to a halt between Ani and Banjar. Officials said they were trying to clear the road as quickly as possible to help restore traffic.

The Chandigarh-Manali highway that was blocked blocked for traffic movement between Mandi and Kullu near Pandoh in Mandi district has been restored for normal traffic movement.

The National Highway Authority of India had engaged its workforce and machinery.

Two landslides were reported in Shimla district on NH-5—one near Badhaal between Shimla and Kinnaur and the other near Jeori. Traffic's been restored on the Jeori stretch but remains near Badhaal, officials said.  

Rampur Sub-divisional Magistrate Yadvendra Pal said road clearing could go on until Sunday evening. 

An uprooted tree in Shimla’s Khalini-Vikasnagar road also caused traffic disruptions.

Himachal has been seeing heavy rain for the last two days. Shimla has received 22mm of rain since Saturday evening.