Landslide isolates Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh

Isolation amidst nature's fury

Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh has found itself isolated from the state capital, Shimla, due to a significant landslide at Negulsari on National Highway 5. The incident unfolded on a Thursday night, prompting authorities to halt vehicular traffic on the affected road. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties due to the swift action taken to close the road.

The landslide caused substantial damage to a 150-300 meter stretch of National Highway 5, rendering it impassable, even on foot. This situation has left numerous vehicles stranded on the road, including trucks loaded with apples from Kinnaur. For local apple growers, this is a worrisome situation, as their produce could spoil if the road remains closed for an extended period.

Efforts to clear the road are underway, with machinery and manpower deployed for the task. However, falling rocks from the hillsides are posing a continuous challenge to these efforts.

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Prompt response and relief measures

Jagat Singh Negi, the Revenue, Horticulture, and Tribal Development Minister, who also serves as the MLA from Kinnaur, visited the site and took immediate action. He utilized drone cameras to assess the situation and instructed officials to expedite the road-clearing process. Moreover, he directed arrangements to facilitate trans-shipment—a method whereby buses and vehicles stranded on the Kinnaur side would transport passengers and goods to and from Shimla.

Landslide-prone Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh, known for its picturesque landscapes, grapples with the challenge of landslides during the monsoon season. The state boasts 17,120 landslide-prone sites, including 675 located near critical infrastructure and habitations. Negulsari stands out as one of the 15 prioritized landslide-prone sites in the tribal district of Kinnaur. Other notable locations susceptible to landslides in the district include Urni Dhank, Batsari, Nesang, and Purbani Julha.

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The current monsoon season has taken a toll on Himachal Pradesh, with 111 lives lost in 164 landslides since June 24. The total number of casualties from rain-related incidents has reached 263, according to the state's emergency operation center. Kinnaur alone has witnessed five landslides during this monsoon season, leading to the blockage of 128 roads for vehicular traffic across the state.

In particular, the Negulsari area experienced a major landslide on August 11, 2021, resulting in the tragic loss of 28 lives and injuries to 13 individuals. This incident involved a Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus and several other vehicles getting buried under the debris.