Munish Sood
MANDI: This year’s exceptionally heavy rainfall has pushed Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh into a landslide crisis, with the area around the town’s new bridge now emerging as one of the most hazardous stretches.
The recent collapse of a massive hillside section here has left precariously hanging rocks looming over a busy national highway, a potential disaster waiting to happen.
Highway under constant threat
The incident occurred last week during intense and continuous downpours when a huge mass of debris tumbled down the nearly vertical slope, blocking the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway for hours.
Although the road was cleared quickly, the cliff remains unstable, with large boulders still clinging overhead. Locals say the danger is so visible that most commuters speed through the stretch without looking up.
This is a daily threat for people heading from Mandi city to Khaliyar, Bijni, Purani Mandi, Bhuili and Katoula.
The threat here extends far beyond road safety. Along this route lie three major educational institutions — DAV Centenary Public School, Central School and Taxila International School, which together serve more than 4,000 students.
“This is not just about infrastructure but about lives, especially those of our children,” said Kuldeep Guleria, Principal of DAV Centenary Public School. “Authorities must treat this as an urgent safety matter and act without delay.”
Several banks, post offices and key public offices also operate on both sides of the danger zone, meaning hundreds of employees and customers cross the stretch every day.
Bus stop directly under risk zone
The danger doesn’t end with the landslide point. A further 200-metre section of road nearby faces the same threat, with loose rocks ready to fall at any moment. Alarmingly, a public bus stop sits directly below this stretch, serving routes to Jogindernagar, Kangra, Dharamshala, Manali and other towns. On any given day, hundreds of passengers wait here — often under the shadow of crumbling rock faces.
Even Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan travels through this danger zone daily to reach his official residence. Attempts by The Newz Radar to contact National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials for comment went unanswered.
“This hillside is terrifying. I don’t even glance at it but just hurry past,” said Nirmal Singh, a resident of Khaliyar.
Purani Mandi shopkeeper Dheeraj Kapoor described crossing the area as “gambling with your life” and appealed for immediate and permanent mitigation work.
