Chandigarh-Manali Highway Reopens After 60 Hours of Blockage

The Chandigarh-Manali highway reopened on August 10, 2023, after being blocked for over 60 hours due to multiple landslides and rockfalls near Pandoh in Mandi district. The blockage, which began on the evening of August 7, caused significant disruptions for local commuters and traders, particularly impacting the transportation of perishable goods.

As the highway cleared near 9 Mile and Dwara, a surge of vehicles created a massive traffic jam that extended through Panarsa, Aut, Thalout, and Pandoh. Drivers, eager to move forward, rushed to overtake each other, exacerbating the congestion that lasted for hours on end. Hundreds of goods carriers that had been stranded since the initial blockage found themselves caught in the gridlock.

Many drivers and commuters were forced to spend nights either in their vehicles or in highway tunnels, while the Mandi administration arranged for food and water to assist those affected. The prolonged closure of the highway led to severe losses for farmers and traders. Vegetable stocks, particularly peas and cauliflowers from Lahaul Spiti, began to rot in the grain market of Takoli. Trader Amit Kumar expressed frustration, stating, “Most of my stock of vegetables is of no use now, thanks to this highway. The authorities should pay attention to the condition of this road as this is a recurring problem.”

To alleviate the situation, the Kullu and Mandi administrations diverted traffic through the alternate Bajaura-Kamand route, which also experienced significant traffic delays. On August 9, this route saw congestion lasting up to 12 hours due to its narrow width, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.

The road closures also affected personal travel. Sunil Kumar, a resident of Kullu, described his experience when he attempted to reach Shimla for an important interview. “We started early at 04:00 on Thursday, hoping to take the Jalori Jot route as both the main highway and the Bajaura-Kamand-Mandi road were blocked. When we reached Jibhi, we learned that even the Aut-Jalori Jot highway was blocked. We were stuck for more than six hours, and thankfully, the main highway finally reopened in the afternoon, but it was sheer harassment,” he said.

The broader impact of the landslides was felt across Himachal Pradesh, where a total of 452 roads remained blocked as of Thursday, with Mandi district accounting for 245 of those closures. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), 108 roads in the Seraj area of Mandi were blocked, alongside closures in Thalout, Karsog, and Dharampur sub-divisions. In Kullu district alone, 117 roads were impassable, including the Aut-Jalori Jot highway.

In addition to road disruptions, many areas faced power outages, with 861 Distribution Transformer Regions (DTRs) affected across the state. Kullu district experienced the highest impact, with 375 DTRs disrupted, followed by Mandi and Solan districts. Water supply systems were also compromised, particularly in Kangra and Mandi districts.

The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall expected in Una, Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur districts on August 10 and 11, which may exacerbate the already challenging conditions in the region. Local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents to exercise caution and stay informed about weather developments.