McLeodganj Connectivity Crisis: Major Landslide Near St. John’s Church Blocks Main Road

A massive landslide struck near the historic St. John’s Church in Forsythganj today, completely blocking the main road to McLeodganj and triggering a connectivity crisis in the area.

With the recently collapsed shortcut route no longer usable, the only remaining access is a narrow, winding road through Naddi—suitable only for light vehicles.

Thousands of residents from nearby villages such as Dharamkot and Bhagsunag are also affected. The situation is particularly alarming as McLeodganj—the hometown of the Dalai Lama and a major international tourist destination—has been cut off, leaving visitors stranded. Local emergency services are on high alert.

Vivek Kumar, Assistant Engineer of National Highway-503, the agency responsible for road maintenance, confirmed that a JCB machine has been deployed to the landslide site. Speaking, he admitted the full extent of the damage is still unclear but expressed hope that debris could soon be cleared to partially restore traffic flow.