Shimla: A road caved in near Jogindernagar due to heavy rainfall over the past three days, blocking the Mandi-Pathankot highway, even as the weather department on Friday issued an orange alert for May 3 and 4.A stretch of the highway caved in at Maigal near Mandi in the Padhar sub-division on Friday morning. The administration immediately closed the stretch for repairs, triggering traffic jams and forcing motorists to take alternate routes to reach Mandi and Jogindernagar.Padhar SDM Surjit Singh said restoring the road would take time as an entire stretch had caved in. He appealed to travellers and local residents to avoid using this route for the time being and opt for alternate routes.The high-altitude Shinkula Pass, linking Lahaul-Spiti with the Zanskar valley of Ladakh, was temporarily blocked on Thursday after a small bridge collapsed under a loaded truck. The rear of the truck sank under its weight, while the front lifted several feet off the ground. A team from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) pulled out the stranded vehicle on Friday, restoring traffic.According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Lahaul-Spiti, the pass remained open for only 4×4 vehicles on Friday.The Meteorological Centre, Shimla, has predicted light to moderate rainfall and light snow in parts of the state till May 7. The Met also issued an orange alert for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts on May 3 and in Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts on May 4.On Friday, Una recorded the highest maximum temperature of 35.2°C — 2.2° below normal, and Tabo recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 3.2°C.Box:A minor avalanche hit near Satrundi on the Sach Pass-Killar road in the Churah area of Chamba district on Thursday, blocking the route and halting ongoing restoration work. Officials said a public works department (PWD) team was clearing snow from the road when the avalanche suddenly swept onto the stretch. The workers acted swiftly, moving machinery to safety and taking shelter, narrowly averting a mishap. The Sach Pass, which links Chamba with the remote Pangi valley and neighbouring Lahaul-Spiti, remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall and is yet to be reopened. MSID:: 130678298 413 |
