Shimla, Aug 22
The concluding phase of the South West Monsoon has intensified landslide activity across Himachal Pradesh, with capital Shimla bearing the brunt of the crisis.
In the past 48 hours, the city has been paralyzed by significant landslides, particularly along the route from Advance Study Road to the MLA Crossing, resulting in gridlocked traffic. Known for its already slow-moving traffic, Shimla now faces traffic jams stretching two to three hours.
The stretch from Boileauganj to the Deepak Project Office to the MLA Crossing has been severely impacted by the caving in of large sections of muck dumping onto the National Highway, further disrupting vehicular flow.
Frustration is mounting among locals. PK Sharma, a resident daily commuters of the said road highlighted the poor management of traffic, criticizing the underuse of internal roads such as Boileauganj to Advance Study Gate and Summerhill to Chaura Maidan. “There is no effective traffic management, and not a single officer is posted on alternative routes like Tavimode to Boileauganj to Chaura Maidan,” Sharma remarked.
Shimla’s Deputy Commissioner, Anupam Kashyap, confirmed the disruptions and emphasized the urgent need to address landslide-prone zones. He warned that three major landslides—at MLA Crossing/Bioleauganj, Chaura Maidan, KNH, and the TCP Police area—have severely impacted the town’s traffic flow. Kashyap urged residents, including students and employees, to begin their daily commutes one or two hours earlier due to the anticipated continuation of traffic jams as two major town arteries remain closed.
Efforts are being made to assess and manage the landslide situation by multiple agencies, including the Deepak Project, Advance Study, the National Highway Authority, Shimla Municipal Corporation, the Public Works Department, and the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board. However, the ongoing threat of further landslides remains high. A rain shelter collapsed along with a section of the Chauramaidan road, complicating efforts to stabilize the affected areas. The administration is currently devising a plan to prevent additional landslides near the Crossing, where substantial muck dumping poses a significant challenge to road clearance efforts.
With the upcoming Monsoon session, the situation may worsen, leading to increased traffic congestion. The parking of buses and vehicles on the highway is exacerbating the problem.
Meanwhile, the Shimla Meteorological Office has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in several districts, including Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Sirmour, Kullu, Solan, and Mandi. Although the rain is forecasted to ease by August 23, Shimla’s traffic challenges are expected to persist until landslide-prone areas are fully stabilized.
Adding to the public’s frustration, reports indicate that VIP convoys are being given priority, worsening delays for ordinary commuters.
