Munish Sood
Mandi
A major disaster was narrowly averted on the Mandi–Pandoh stretch of the Chandigarh–Manali National Highway after a massive retaining wall collapsed near Jagar Nala on Wednesday morning, leaving nearly 20 families living along the roadside under serious threat.
The retaining wall, constructed as part of the ongoing four-lane highway project, suddenly gave way, damaging nearly 30 meters of the road. While no casualties were reported, the incident has triggered widespread panic among residents whose homes are located just below the affected stretch.
What has heightened concerns further is that the collapse has occurred even before the onset of the monsoon. Locals are now questioning the durability of the construction, warning that if such failures are happening ahead of the rains, the situation could turn far more dangerous during peak monsoon months.
Residents allege that this is not the first such incident at the site. A similar collapse had reportedly taken place earlier, after which the construction company rebuilt the structure. However, its failure again within a short period has raised serious questions over construction quality and accountability.
The danger is far from over. Cracks have already appeared in nearby retaining walls, indicating the possibility of further collapses. For the nearly 20 affected families, the fear is immediate and real, with many now living under constant anxiety of a sudden landslide or structural failure.
Expressing strong resentment, local residents have demanded urgent intervention by the district administration. A villager, Surat Ram, warned that without immediate preventive measures, a major tragedy could occur. He called for a thorough inspection of the site, strengthening of vulnerable structures, and strict action against those responsible for alleged negligence.
Meanwhile, Satya, Project Manager of the executing company, attributed the collapse to soil settlement in the area. He stated that the issue would be reviewed in consultation with experts and that the retaining wall would be rebuilt with improved safeguards.
With lives at stake and infrastructure stability in question, the incident has once again put the spotlight on construction standards along this crucial highway corridor, as residents await swift and decisive action from the authorities.
