Shimla,8 September 8(HS): Even after the rains have stopped in Himachal Pradesh, incidents of landslides are not stopping. On Thursday night, National Highway 5, connecting Shimla to Kinnaur, collapsed due to a landslide in Nigalsuri, Kinnaur district. Due to this, the tribal district of Kinnaur has been cut off from the country and the world.
It was told that about 150 to 200 metres of the Kinnaur-Shimla National Highway were wiped out. The mountain fell on the highway in such a way that even the pedestrian path was closed. It was fortunate that no vehicle was passing on the highway at the time of the landslide; otherwise, there could have been major damage. Due to the blocking of this national highway, Kinnaur has been cut off from the country and the world. The National Highway Authority and the local administration are engaged in building the highway.
It may take a long time for the highway to be restored. Due to this, there will be a problem taking apples to the mandis. This national highway goes to the Tibet border. Due to the closure of this national highway, long queues of vehicles have formed on both sides. Most of the vehicles include trucks loaded with apples. Kinnaur apples are in great demand in the markets due to their sweetness and size. The apple crop is ready in the low-lying areas of Kinnaur. In such a situation, due to the blockage of the highway, gardeners are afraid of apples rotting. During the monsoon season, this highway is repeatedly blocked by landslides. Landslides were happening in Nigalsuri for the last two days. Two apple trucks were buried in a landslide here on Wednesday. The truck riders saved their lives by running away.
On August 11, 2021, about half a dozen vehicles, including an HRTC bus loaded with passengers, a tipper, and a newspaper van, were hit by a landslide due to the falling of rocks from a hill in Nigulsari. 28 people had died in this accident.
The rains that wreaked havoc in the state have slowed down for the last few days. The Meteorological Department has ruled out the possibility of heavy rainfall in the state for the next five days, i.e., until September 12. No alert of any kind has been issued during this period. The monsoon is expected to be active again on September 15. There was no rain anywhere in the state during the last 24 hours. It was sunny in most parts of the state on Friday, too.
Hindusthan Samachar/ Indrani Sarkar
