Mandi: Continuous rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has once again caused massive damage, leading to the closure of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway. This time, a heavy landslide occurred near Khotinalla between Pandoh and Aut, forcing authorities to halt traffic movement. The highway was closed around 7 a.m. today after the incident, and a live video captured the frightening moment as rocks and debris tumbled down the hillside.
At the time of the landslide, the Pandoh police outpost team was present on the spot. Constable Chet Ram noticed falling rocks from the hill and acted swiftly to stop all vehicles. He immediately instructed the drivers standing ahead to reverse, ensuring their safety. Eyewitnesses said that just moments after the vehicles were cleared, the entire hillside collapsed. They expressed gratitude to the police, administration, and especially the officer for preventing what could have been a major tragedy.
Anil Katoch, in-charge of the Pandoh police outpost, confirmed that traffic was stopped before the debris fell, which prevented any accidents. However, he added that the landslide has left behind a huge amount of debris, and it will take considerable time to clear it before traffic can be restored.
The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway has faced repeated closures due to landslides in recent months. Notably, this particular location at Khotinalla is a new spot where such an incident has never occurred before.
