Mandi-Pathankot Highway Reopens After 7-Hour Landslide Blockade; Heavy Monsoon Rains Disrupt Traffic

Traffic on the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway resumed on Wednesday evening after a massive landslide, triggered by relentless monsoon rainfall, blocked the road for nearly seven hours near Maigal, close to Lavandi Nala in Mandi district’s Padhar subdivision.

The landslide sent large rocks and debris crashing onto the highway, damaging a section of the road and forcing authorities to suspend traffic movement as a safety measure. Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the district administration immediately launched restoration work to clear the affected stretch.

During the closure, heavy vehicles were diverted through the Drang–Katindi–Taryambli route, while light vehicles were allowed to travel via an alternative stretch of the under-construction Super Express Highway to reduce inconvenience for commuters.

Following several hours of continuous debris removal and road clearance operations, the highway was reopened to traffic later in the evening, restoring connectivity between the affected regions.

The impact of the heavy rainfall was not limited to the national highway. Landslides also temporarily disrupted traffic on the Padhar-Balh and Padhar-Jogindernagar roads, although authorities managed to clear both routes after prompt action.

Officials have stationed heavy machinery at landslide-prone locations across the district to ensure a faster response in case of further weather-related disruptions. With the monsoon remaining active in Himachal Pradesh, the administration has advised residents and travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys during intense rainfall and follow official traffic advisories before setting out.

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