Shimla, September 17: The people of Kinnaur suffered a major setback on Tuesday when a 70-metre stretch of National Highway-5 (NH-5) near Nigulsari collapsed, cutting off Kinnaur from Shimla district. Thousands of residents, tourists and security forces were stranded due to the landslide in Sector 26 of Nigulsari, cutting off vital connectivity to the district.
The strategic National Highway-5, connecting Kinnaur and border areas with Shimla, has been prone to landslides for years. However, the complete collapse of the highway has led to an unprecedented crisis, leaving residents of Kalpa, Pooh and Nichar blocks of Kinnaur district cut off from essential services and supplies. Apart from local residents, military personnel, including the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) forces deployed along the border, depend on this route for travel and logistics.
Despite the weather being clear in the area in the last two days, the situation has worsened due to seepage of underground water from Taranda side, leading to land subsidence. The already unstable terrain has led to the collapse of the highway, posing serious risks to those commuting in the area.
Frustrated by the frequent landslides in the Nigulsari area over the years, local residents have again reiterated their demand for construction of an alternate route. Many are urging the government, Public Works Department (PWD) and local administration to expedite the planning of the Palingi-Chhota Kamba road to ensure safe and reliable connection if the NH-5 remains closed.
National Highway-5 is the lifeline for Kinnaur, providing access to vital supply routes for not only residents but also thousands of tourists visiting the region and security personnel deployed along the border with India. The continued instability of the road has further aggravated the challenges faced by the people of Kinnaur, especially when landslides have been recurring in the area over the years.
According to Satish Joshi, a junior engineer with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the 70-metre collapsed portion is under repair. “Work to restore the highway is in progress, and if everything goes as planned, the NH will be restored by Wednesday afternoon,” he said. However, ongoing concerns about landslides mean that long-term solutions are urgently needed.
As the region is isolated, thousands of people are anxiously awaiting relief and restoration of the crucial highway, hoping that there will be both immediate repairs and more durable solutions to prevent further disruptions in the future.
The collapse of NH-5 is another reminder of the urgent need for better infrastructure in landslide-prone areas, especially in sensitive areas like Kinnaur, where the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people depend on a stable and reliable road network.
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