Vikal Sharma
SULAH (Kangra): The partial collapse of the Nalati bridge near Sulah on the Palampur-Pathankot-Mandi National Highway is causing severe disruption to vehicular movement on one of Himachal Pradesh’s busiest routes, officials said on Sunday.
The highway, which connects Pathankot to Mandi and links major towns such as Dharamshala, Kangra, Chandigarh, and Delhi, is used daily by hundreds of commuters, buses, and freight trucks. The structural failure occurred after a section of the bridge sank during heavy rainfall.
Authorities have restricted movement to one vehicle at a time due to safety concerns, raising fears of further collapse or serious accidents during the ongoing monsoon season.
Repair work on the damaged section is underway. “The department is working on a war footing to lift and reinforce the collapsed portion. The aim is to restore two-way traffic within two weeks,” an official from the Public Works Department said.
Despite the risk, officials praised the prompt response of repair teams to mitigate the disruption on this crucial transport artery.
Further assessments will determine the structural integrity of the remaining bridge span. Travelers have been advised to proceed with caution until full restoration is complete.
Vikal Sharma
