Mandi, July 26

Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, who also serves as chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, has announced temporary closure of the Chandigarh-Manali highway from Bindravani to Pandoh in Mandi district. The road will remain closed to vehicular traffic for two hours from July 27 to July 31.

Temporay closure

• Temporary closure of the Chandigarh-Manali highway has been announced from Bindravani to Pandoh in Mandi district.
• The road will remain closed to vehicular traffic for two hours everyday from July 27 to 31.
• The scheduled closure will be between 11 am and 1 pm.
• This step has been taken to ensure safety of travellers and to facilitate necessary repair work on the highway.

The scheduled closure will be between 11 am and 1 pm. This measure is being taken to ensure safety of travellers and to facilitate necessary repair work on the highway. According to the DC, the decision has been taken following warnings and reports from the Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Mandi, regarding hazardous conditions caused by recent landslides on this road stretch.

"Heavy rainfall on July 20 had triggered a series of landslides on this road stretch, leading to boulders precariously hanging over the road in certain areas. These conditions pose a risk to motorists and necessitate remedial repairs were required," the NHAI official told the district administration.

The DC stated that the two-hour daily closure might cause temporary inconvenience, but it was a necessary step to prevent potential accidents and ensure highway's safety and longevity.

Local residents and travellers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and seek alternative routes during the specified closure periods. The authorities have promised to complete the repair work as swiftly as possible to minimise disruption.