In a significant disruption to the region’s transportation network, a heavy landslide near Nigulsari in Himachal Pradesh‘s Kinnaur district has blocked National Highway-5 (NH-5). The landslide, which occurred on Friday, caused extensive damage to a 380-meter stretch of the highway, rendering it impassable. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has reported that this incident has severed traffic connectivity to the Kinnaur and Spiti regions.
KL Suman, the Executive Engineer of the National Highway Authority, described the situation, stating, “The road has started caving in from the top at the landslide. A 380-meter stretch of NH-5 has been damaged due to the landslide.” This substantial damage has effectively halted all vehicular movement on the critical NH-5 route, with no alternate routes available to Kinnaur.
The blockade has left numerous vehicles stranded on the road, including trucks laden with apples from Kinnaur. Apple growers in the region are deeply concerned about their produce, as delays in reopening the road could lead to spoilage.
Efforts to clear the blocked highway are underway, with machinery and manpower deployed to the site. However, officials have encountered challenges as falling stones from the hillsides continue to obstruct the road-clearing operation.
In response to the crisis, Himachal Pradesh’s Revenue, Horticulture, and Tribal Development Minister, Jagat Singh Negi, who also serves as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing Kinnaur, visited the scene. Minister Negi utilized drone cameras to assess the situation comprehensively and instructed officials to expedite the road clearance process. He also directed the authorities to arrange for the trans-shipment of passengers and goods, facilitating the movement of individuals and cargo between Kinnaur and Shimla.
It is important to note that the landslide at Nigulsari is one of 15 prioritized landslide-prone sites in the tribal district of Kinnaur, out of a total of 17,120 such sites across Himachal Pradesh. Other critical locations in the district include Urni Dhank, Batsari, Nesang, and Purbani Julha.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
