Himachal rains: NH-5 blocked in Shimla and Kinnaur districts following landslides

Landslides caused by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have blocked sections of National Highway-5 at Broni Nallah and Khaneri in the Shimla district and Kaksthal in the Kinnaur district, according to officials. Images of the blocked sections of the highway in two Himachal districts were shared by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Heavy rainstorms in the Shimla district earlier on Wednesday prevented travel on the National Highway in the Jeori and Broni Nallah areas close to Jhakri.

On Tuesday, several houses were damaged after a cloudburst in Kullu’s Panchnala.
Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Ashutosh Garg said a total of five houses were completely damaged in the cloudburst.
“Five houses were completely damaged and 15 partially damaged in the cloudburst. The Bhuntar-Gadsa Maniyar road was also damaged. Two bridges were also swept away in the cloudburst,” he said.

Previously, landslides in the area had caused National Highway-5 to be blocked at three locations in the Shimla and Kinnaur districts. Landslides at Nog Kenchi near Kumarsain, Broni Nallah near Jhakri Village in the Shimla district, and near Nigulsari Village in the Kinnaur district reportedly blocked the National Highway-5. Earlier on Sunday, the Shimla district’s roadblocks were updated on Twitter by the Himachal Pradesh Traffic, Tourist, and Railways Police.

HP Traffic, Tourist and Railways Police tweeted that the NH 705 Theog-Hatkoti road was closed at Bagra due to a landslide, as well as the Kotkhai-Baghi and Fagu-Kot darbar roads. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert on June 22 and predicted that eight districts in Himachal Pradesh would experience heavy rainfall.