NH Chandigarh-Manali Closed After Landslide, Private Bus Damaged; Driver, Conductor Escape Unhurt

Mandi, February 28: Traffic on the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway has been disrupted due to a massive landslide near Aut, resulting in its closure. The large amount of debris from the hill near the Shani Temple fell on the highway, blocking the highway completely on Friday morning. The update was shared by Mandi Police on their official social media account, advising that travellers should exercise caution and avoid the affected route.

The closure of the highway has created a massive traffic jam on either side of the affected stretch. The machinery of Afcons Company, the agency undertaking the four-lane construction project, was immediately put into action and road clearance was taken up, Mandi Police confirmed. But heavy rain in the area has prolonged the debris removal operation. Note that small vehicles have begun to be cleared from site, traffic restoration to be further prolonged.

SP Sakshi Verma said that the cleanup mission is still in progress but added that the rain-influenced weather had substantially hindered the process. As the rains continued and conditions remained unstable, she prompted travelers to put their journeys off unless they were absolutely necessary. Alternative routes are being advised for those who need to travel urgently, so as not to delay the process.

Tragedy struck a private bus travelling from Manali to Pathankot and got caught in the mayhem. The bus was New Prem (HP 63D-5511) and overturned near Panarsa around 6.50 am. Early reports indicate that a boulder had fallen down the slope and hit the bus, causing it to overturn. Fortunately, the bus overturned on the side of the road, and did not fall into the Beas River below, which could have resulted in a much worse disaster.

Both the bus driver Jaswant Singh and the conductor Ankush had been injured in the incident. They were immediately taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Nagwain for medical aid. There were two other passengers on the bus at the time of the accident, but their condition is not known.

Road safety is a major concern during the monsoon when the threat of landslides and falling debris is higher. The highway’s shutdown has also stranded trip-goers, compounding the increased frustration from waits of hours and hours.

Police are still investigating the incident, including the possibility that the landslide may have contributed to the fatal bus crash or whether other factors may have been involved. Authorities have also advised that drivers should stay up to date with the current traffic conditions and avoid the area under the highway yet to be cleared.

Weather conditions have not improved, and many local authorities are advising the public to take precautions, prioritizing safety and extreme caution while driving through the mountainous area.