News
Bathu Bridge Landslide Blocks Kangra–Shimla National Highway
Interlock mesh fails to withstand massive debris flow during heavy rains
Shimla, Updated At : 10:09 AM Aug 28, 2025 IST
Fresh devastation struck National Highway-503 near Ranitall when a massive landslide at Bathu Bridge swallowed the entire left lane, bringing traffic to a standstill. Continuous rainfall caused a large section of the hillside to collapse, scattering boulders across the road and exposing the fragile lower slopes of the valley.
Officials said the falling rocks originated beyond the designated highway land, making restoration even more difficult. With clear skies today, cleanup operations picked up pace, offering temporary relief to stranded commuters. However, the damage was extensive: the interlock mesh that once served as a safety measure against rockfalls lay crushed and buried under the force of nature.
Geologists have warned that deep river cutting on both banks has dangerously loosened the slopes, a condition that could take years to stabilize. Meanwhile, the highway authority remains cautiously optimistic, pledging to reopen at least one blocked lane soon to partially restore traffic along this critical lifeline.
For now, the landslide stands both as a disruption and a reminder: in Kangra’s rain-soaked valleys, every slope cut into a hillside carries the risk of awakening forces far stronger than human engineering.
