Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, July 7

The Mandi-Kullu National Highway was blocked for over an one hour following landslide near Pandoh dam in Mandi district today. A large number of vehicles were stranded while some light vehicles were diverted through alternative route from Kandi to Bajaura. The road was blocked around 5 pm and no loss to life was reported.

Mandi ASP Puneet Raghu said that road was restored for traffic within an hour. He said an advisory had been issued to avoid traveling by the road during night due to threat of landslide.

The residents alleged that fragile strata of the mountains had been disturbed due to the ongoing four-lane construction activity between Mandi and Kullu due to which frequency of landslides had increased in the area.

Meanwhile, widespread rains occurred at several places in Himachal as monsoons remained normal while the MeT office has warned of heavy rains at isolated places in lower and mid hills on July 8 and 9.

Kasauli in Solan district was the wettest with 73 mm rains while Renuka and Nahan received 51 mm and 49 mm rains, followed by Sujanpur Tira and Baijnath 36 mm each, Palampur 31 mm, Salooni 23 mm, Dalhousie 30 mm, Jogindernagar and Sangrah15 mm, Shimla 14, Gaggal and Dharampur 14 mm, Chamba 12 mm, Kotkhai and Bharmaur 10 mm.

The MeT office also predicted rains and thunder showers at many places in lower and mid hills and rains and snow at some places in higher hills from July 8 to July 13.