Landslides closes Jhalama bridge, cut off Pangi-Lahaul and 14 panchayats along SKTT
Shimla/Keylong
Continuous landslides near Jahlama village in Lahaul-Spiti district have severely damaged a steel bridge constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on the SKTT( Sansari Killar Tindi and Thirot) highway, snapping road connectivity between Pangi valley of Chamba district with 14 panchayats and the district headquarters Keylong as well as Manali.
Officials said heavy debris and falling rocks from a steep hill slope have damaged the bridge and adjoining road stretches, forcing authorities to completely suspend vehicular movement on the route.
The landslides have been occurring intermittently for the past three days, with massive rocks and debris continuously sliding down the mountainside.
The administration had earlier restricted movement on the highway from 7 am to 7 pm on Tuesday due to increasing danger in the area. However, the situation worsened after a larger portion of the hill reportedly developed fresh cracks, making the route unsafe for all traffic.
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Several videos of the landslide have surfaced, showing huge boulders crashing onto the highway and bridge area. Due to the sudden closure of the road, tourists and local commuters along with their vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the route.
Administrative officials rushed to the spot to assess the damage. Local MLA Anuradha Rana also visited the affected site and reviewed the situation with officials of the district administration and the BRO.
Rana urged the administration and BRO authorities to immediately create an alternative route to restore connectivity to the cut-off areas. She said the disruption has badly affected residents of remote panchayats and travellers moving between Lahaul, Pangi and Manali.
BRO teams and engineers are presently engaged in clearing debris and exploring possibilities for opening a temporary diversion road. However, officials indicated that restoration work could remain challenging due to the continuing instability of the hill slope and ongoing rockfall activity in the region.
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