Munish Sood
MANDI: The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway has been completely shut near Aut for the past nearly 50 hours following multiple landslides triggered by incessant rainfall across Mandi district since Sunday (July 20, 2025) night.
The prolonged highway disruption has stranded hundreds of vehicles, especially heavy trucks, while commuters continue to face severe delays due to blocked routes and slippery conditions.
Massive landslides have occurred at Dawada, Jhalogi and Shani Mandir where rocks and debris from the hillsides have buried the highway. While debris has been cleared at several other locations, these three stretches remain obstructed.
The most critical blockage is at Dawada where huge boulders have fallen from the mountainside, requiring heavy machinery for removal. As of Tuesday morning, restoration work is ongoing and the highway is expected to reopen only by late afternoon, provided the weather permits, said an official.
In the meantime, light vehicles are being rerouted through alternate routes, but heavy vehicles continue to remain stranded, worsening the traffic situation in and around the region.
IMD issues yellow alert, schools shut in three subdivisions
In view of the continuing rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Mandi district for Tuesday, cautioning of further downpours and possible landslides.
The district administration has announced a holiday in all educational institutions under Thunag and Karsog subdivisions, and Nihri tehsil of Sundernagar subdivision as a precautionary measure. The authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in hilly or slide-prone areas.
Second major closure at same location in two weeks
This isn’t the first time this stretch of the highway has faced such a disruption. Just two weeks ago, a similar landslide at the same 4 Mile point near Mandi had shut down the highway for over 24 hours. That incident had raised alarms regarding the slope stability and inadequate drainage systems along the newly constructed Kiratpur-Manali four-lane project.
Now, with another 42-hour-long blockade, questions are once again being raised over the quality of infrastructure and the preparedness of the administration in handling recurring monsoon disruptions.
Wider impact on Mandi district
Apart from the national highway, several internal roads in the district have also been damaged by landslides. Restoration work is underway at multiple locations, but continued rainfall is slowing operations.
Officials say all relevant departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), police and disaster response teams are on high alert. Locals and travelers are being advised to follow official bulletins and avoid high-risk zones.
