Shimla-Chandigarh highway reopens after landslide, Kalka-Shimla rail traffic suspended due to heavy rains
HP Traffic, Tourist, and Railways Police tweet: Single-lane traffic moving at Koti, Sanwara, and Chakkimod on Shimla-Chandigarh highway
Shimla, July 11: The Shimla-Chandigarh National Highway 5, which was blocked for more than 12 hours due to a major landslide in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, has been reopened for traffic, according to the police.
The movement of single-lane traffic on both sides of the highway is now being facilitated at Koti, Sanwara, and Chakkimod, as announced by the HP Traffic, Tourist, and Railways Police via a tweet.
The landslide caused a significant portion of the highway near Chakkimod in Solan district to cave in, leading to the road closure. Additionally, heavy rainfall resulted in damage to a crucial bridge on National Highway 105, which connects Pinjore with Baddi, further disrupting traffic movement.
Meanwhile, officials have reported mudslides along the tracks of the Kalka-Shimla railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Himachal Pradesh. As a result, rail traffic on this route will remain suspended on Tuesday. Landslides have also been observed at various locations along the tracks in Solan district, located approximately 65 km from the state capital.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu stated that the ongoing monsoon rains have caused 17 fatalities in the state, with property damage estimated to be over Rs 3,000 crore.