Munish Sood
Mandi: Incessant monsoon rains continued to batter Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, triggering multiple landslides across the region and causing widespread disruption along the vital Chandigarh-Manali National Highway (NH-3).
Among the most affected stretches was the Pandoh-Dayod area, where a massive landslide near Magar Nullah brought vehicular movement to a standstill. Debris from the landslide blocked the highway completely around 11 pm, stranding dozens of vehicles, including a wedding convoy en route from Dudar to Jwalapur. It wasn’t until 10 am the next morning that the road was partially cleared. A groom too was caught in the chaos.
As the wedding season peaks across northern India, many families are finding their celebrations at the mercy of extreme weather conditions. For one groom travelling with his baraat (wedding procession), the journey turned into an unexpected adventure.
Starting at 3 am from Dudar, the procession carefully navigated through minor landslide zones and reached Kainchimod by 4 am. However, the real trouble awaited near Dayod, where a heavy slide at Magar Nullah blocked the highway completely. Mounds of debris and stranded vehicles created a traffic nightmare, leaving the groom and his entire entourage stuck for hours.
Police step in, groom rescued on foot and sent ahead in taxi
Recognising the urgency of the situation, a team from the Pandoh police post arrived at the scene. With the road unlikely to be cleared anytime soon, officers took swift action: they escorted the groom and a few family members on foot through a safe passage beyond the landslide zone.
From the Kullu side, a taxi was arranged, allowing the groom to continue his journey toward Jwalapur, ensuring that the wedding rituals could proceed without major delay.
“We left around 3 am with the groom from Dudar,” said Dayaram Thakur, a relative travelling with the wedding party. “We made it as far as Dayod, but the road was completely blocked. Thanks to the police, the groom could move ahead, otherwise the entire ceremony could have been at risk.”
District administration urges caution
Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma confirmed that all vehicles stranded near the landslide zone were being evacuated safely and that efforts to restore traffic flow were ongoing. She appealed to commuters to remain cautious while traveling on NH-3, as continuous rainfall has triggered landslides at multiple points along the route.
“The highway is prone to landslides during heavy rains,” said SP Verma. “We urge all drivers to remain alert and avoid travel unless necessary, especially in the current conditions.”
