A massive 50-kilometer traffic jam on the Chandigarh-Kullu highway has left thousands of vehicles stranded, including hundreds of trucks carrying essential goods like fruits and vegetables bound for Delhi-NCR. The heavy rainfall and multiple landslides in the region have triggered severe disruptions, forcing authorities to block parts of the Chandigarh-Manali highway.
While small vehicles have been able to pass, trucks remain stuck at several points, causing significant delays. Truck drivers report that consignments of apples, tomatoes, and other perishable goods worth crores of rupees are rotting on the road. One driver mentioned that his truckload of apples, worth approximately Rs 4 lakh, has been stuck in Kullu for five days, intended for the Sahibabad fruit market. The value of the apples alone is estimated to be over Rs 50 crore.
Landslides have occurred at multiple locations between Mandi and Kullu, complicating efforts to clear the road. Authorities are working to restore access, but the flow of the Beas River has damaged parts of the highway, slowing down repair efforts. Ashok Chauhan, an engineer from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), confirmed the ongoing work to fix the damaged sections.
Locals are also raising concerns about the future of the region. Jai Bhal, a local resident, warned that houses near Ramshila in Kullu have been damaged and urged authorities to take preventive action to avoid future destruction, especially during the monsoon.
The situation has worsened as Manali’s connectivity from one side has been cut off. Since Monday, heavy rainfall has caused extensive damage across the state. Four shops, two restaurants, and one house were damaged, and in Bilaspur district’s Naina Devi constituency, a house collapsed on Wednesday due to the downpour.
Since Tuesday evening, several parts of Himachal Pradesh have experienced relentless rain, leading to widespread roadblocks and disruptions in power and water supplies. Mandi and Kullu have been particularly affected. According to reports, the ongoing rain-related incidents have already resulted in 158 deaths and left 38 people missing since June 20. The estimated losses due to these weather events have exceeded Rs 2,623 crore.
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