The Newz Radar
KINNAUR: The Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh has been cut off from the rest of the world for the past five days due to a landslide near Nigulsari on the strategic Shimla-Kinnaur National Highway-5, which connects India to China border.
The road closure has led to a crisis that threatens the livelihoods of thousands of apple growers and the availability of essential supplies. Over 14,000 boxes of apples worth crores of rupees are stranded in vehicles, markets and warehouses, while peas worth lakhs of rupees are at risk due to the transportation blockade.
The entire district has faced a severe shortage of food items as supplies have been unable to reach their destination.Local authorities are working tirelessly to address the crisis by facilitating the transportation of apple and peas crops to the market. A crucial 600-metre-long span has been installed at the Chhota Kamba bridge, where the road was damaged, and operations are expected to commence on Monday (September 11, 2023). Additionally, the Public Works Department (PWD) is actively involved in setting up alternative routes, which are expected to be ready within next two to three days. Until the main highway is restored, apples from Kinnaur will be redirected to the market through the newly established routes.
However, the reopening of the National Highway, which sustained substantial damage over a 400-metre stretch due to landslides, is anticipated to take another five to six days. This extended closure has forced apple growers in Kinnaur district to halt their harvesting.The closure of the highway has not only affected apple growers but also the general public.
The district is experiencing a shortage of essential commodities like petrol, diesel, milk, curd, bread, butter and vegetables. To cope with this scarcity, supplies are now being rerouted through Lahaul & Spiti. The transportation woes began when a landslide struck Nigulsari in Kinnaur around midnight on Wednesday, and the situation worsened when another landslide occurred at approximately 11.30 am on Thursday.
