Heavy rainfall and multiple landslides have disrupted traffic on the Chandigarh-Kullu highway, creating a traffic jam stretching nearly 50 km. Thousands of vehicles, including trucks carrying essential goods, remain stranded for several days, affecting supplies to Delhi-NCR.
Officials confirmed that the Chandigarh-Manali highway is blocked at multiple points between Mandi and Kullu. While small vehicles have been allowed to pass, heavy trucks remain immobilised as clearance operations continue. The disruption has halted the movement of fruits, vegetables, and other perishable commodities.
Truck drivers reported heavy losses as consignments of apples, tomatoes, and vegetables were rotting in stranded vehicles. Each truckload is estimated at Rs4–4.5 lakh (US$48,000–54,000), and apples worth over Rs50 crore (US$6 million) are stuck.
Gaffar, a driver transporting apples to the Sahibabad fruit market, said his truck has been stranded in Kullu for five days. "Thousands of trucks bound for Azadpur and Sahibabad mandis are trapped. Our produce is perishing," he told NDTV.
Authorities said the Beas River's strong current has damaged several sections of the highway. Ashok Chauhan, an NHAI engineer in Kullu-Manali, said repair work is underway, though heavy rains continue to slow progress.
Resident Jai Bhal noted that homes near Ramshila have already been damaged and urged authorities to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of future incidents.
Manali's connectivity has been partially cut off. Since Monday, four shops, two restaurants, and one house have been damaged in the region. In Bilaspur district's Naina Devi constituency, a house collapsed in Manjhed village after heavy rains on Wednesday.
Officials have advised travellers to avoid the route until further notice as clearance efforts continue under difficult conditions.
Source: abp Live