Himachal Pradesh: Relief to passengers, Kalka-Shimla National Highway restored for movement of buses

The Kalka-Shimla National Highway remained closed for eight hours due to another landslide near Panch Chakkimod. Due to heavy rains across the district late on Thursday, a landslide occurred on the highway near Chakkimod at around 3:00 pm. The drivers did not know about the closure of the highway, due to which two to three kilometer long queues of thousands of vehicles started here.

After that two JCBs of the company working here reached the spot. After a lot of effort, the highway was opened for the movement of small vehicles and buses at around 11:40 am. At the same time, at 3:30 pm, the NH was again closed for about half an hour. However, vehicles were diverted on alternate routes till the highway was opened.

It may be noted that earlier on August 01, part of the Kalka-Shimla National Highway 5 had completely collapsed. After which the highway from Kumarhatti to Parwanoo remained completely closed for a week. Due to this, vehicles coming from Chandigarh to Shimla and Shimla to Chandigarh were being sent through alternate road routes. At the same time, the company and the team of the National Highway Authority, which is constructing the forelane, were constantly trying to open the forelane.

As soon as there was an attempt to join the two ends, the hill used to crack again at the mill. After which the plan to build the road was changed and the road was opened for light vehicles on Tuesday afternoon. For three days the highway ran perfectly fine for small vehicles, pickups, unload canters. But on Thursday night again the highway was closed at Chakkimod. After which the highway was opened after eight hours.

Load truck could not run

Big trucks are not being sent from Chakkimod on Kalka-Shimla National Highway 5 for more than 10 days. There was a plan to send these trucks from here on Friday, but now again the same situation has happened. On Friday also, the movement of trucks is being done from Kumarhatti-Nahan-Chandigarh road only.

Kalka Shimla National Highway was closed due to rain on Thursday late night. Which was opened for small vehicles and buses till around 11:30 am on Friday morning. Due to the rain, there are problems due to repeated debris falling here. – Manmohan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Solan