Vehicular movement on the Dharamsala-Kangra National Highway came to a standstill Friday morning after a landslide, triggered by continuous rains since Thursday night, blocked the road. The slide occurred around 2.5 km from Sakoh village, leading to the complete closure of the highway for four-wheelers.
While no injuries or casualties were reported, the incident has caused major disruptions for commuters and tourists, especially as this route is a key access point to Dharamsala from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and other states.
In response, traffic heading from Dharamsala to Kangra is being diverted via Sheela Road through Mataur town. Authorities have issued an advisory asking people to avoid the affected section of the highway until the debris is cleared.
Vivek Sandhu, Assistant Executive Engineer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said that JCB machines have been sent to the site and clearing operations were expected to begin shortly. “If weather conditions remain stable, we hope to reopen the road by this afternoon,” he added.
However, ongoing light to moderate rainfall in the region continues to pose risks, especially on other vulnerable routes like the McLeodganj road, where repair work is already in progress.
The Himachal Pradesh Meteorological Department has forecast more rain in the Kangra district over the next 24 hours. Public Works Department (PWD) officials are keeping a close watch on landslide-prone areas.
The district administration has assured that all necessary efforts are being made to restore normal traffic flow as soon as possible.
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