Landslide disrupts Hindustan-Tibet National Highway near Theog, apple traffic hit
Shimla, Sept 8
Hindustan-Tibet National Highway-5 was disrupted near Theog on Monday morning after a massive landslide brought down two to three large deodar trees onto the road, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The landslide occurred at around 5 am near Janog Ghat, blocking the highway, one of the principal road links connecting Shimla with the apple-growing belts of upper Shimla and Kinnaur. The disruption has particularly affected the movement of apple-laden vehicles to markets during the ongoing peak apple season.
A large number of vehicles carrying passengers as well as apple cartons were seen stranded on both sides of the blocked stretch. Long queues of vehicles have formed as commuters and apple growers wait for the highway to be cleared. Emergency vehicles are also reportedly facing difficulty in reaching the affected area.
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The presence of huge deodar trees on the road has made restoration of traffic more difficult, with machinery and personnel required to remove the fallen trees and clear the debris.
The disruption comes amid continuing concerns over the impact of the monsoon on Himachal Pradesh’s road infrastructure. Although rainfall has weakened in recent days, landslides continue to pose a threat in vulnerable areas.
According to the figures cited by the state authorities, the monsoon season has so far claimed around 267 lives, while damage to government and private property has been estimated at about Rs 1,437 crore. Roads, bridges, water supply schemes and other public infrastructure have suffered extensive damage.
The latest disruption on NH-5 has once again highlighted the vulnerability of the state’s critical transport network, particularly during the apple season when thousands of vehicles depend on the highway to transport produce from the hill districts to markets outside the state.
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