Shimla-Chandigarh national highway blocked after landslide

Heavy rains cause landslides in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district, blocking national highway connecting Shimla to Chandigarh. Traffic routed via alternate roads; orange alert issued for seven districts; 194 lives lost, 34 missing; ₹2,000 crore losses to Public Works Dept.

A landslide blocked the national highway connecting Shimla to Chandigarh in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district on August 2 morning, leaving many vehicles stranded, officials said.

A 50-metre road stretch completely caved in following the landslide.

Light vehicles coming from Chandigarh have been routed through Parwanoo-Kasauli-Jangushu Road–Kumarhatti while vehicles going from Solan would take Bhognagar-Banasar-Kamli road.

Men and machinery have been deployed at the damaged stretch and work to open the road has commenced, officials said.

The Shimla Police has routed traffic going from Shimla to Chandigarh via Theog-Sainj-Giripul-Oachghat-Kumarhatti-Sarahan-Kala Amb-Panchkula road while the traffic coming from Chandigarh would be routed via Dherowal-Nalagarh- Parsehar-Kunihar-Totu-Shimla for light vehicles.

Explained | Himachal floods: a man-made disaster?

The local weather department has issued an orange alert warning of heavy to very heavy rains in isolated places in seven out of 12 districts, including Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur, on August 3 and 4.