Landslide disrupts traffic on the Shimla-Kalka highway; long queues reported in Solan district

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Shimla, April 11

Traffic movement on a stretch of National Highway-5 between Shimla and Kalka was severely affected after a landslide struck the Dharampur area in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district, leading to long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road on Friday.

According to eyewitnesses, traffic at the location had already been restricted to a single lane due to earlier conditions. Around 4 pm, debris suddenly rolled down the hillside and blocked the only operational lane, halting vehicular movement. Following the incident, congestion quickly built up, with vehicles stranded on both sides of the affected stretch. A team from the National Highways Authority of India reached the spot to clear the debris and restore traffic flow.

Videos showing debris rolling down the hillside circulated widely on social media, highlighting the scale of the disruption. The India Meteorological Department’s Shimla office has forecast a wet spell in isolated parts of the state over the coming days. Light rainfall activity is expected on Saturday and Sunday, as well as later next week, under the influence of a weak western disturbance likely to impact the western Himalayan region from April 15.

The weather office has also issued a warning of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds in parts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts on Saturday. Light rainfall has been reported in several areas of Himachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours, indicating continued unstable weather conditions in the region.

Authorities are monitoring the situation and working to restore traffic while advising commuters to remain cautious in landslide-prone areas.