Chandigarh-Manali Highway Collapses Again at Kainchi Mod, No Immediate Restoration in Sight
The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway has been shut down once again, and this time the situation is far more severe. Due to heavy rainfall last night, a large section of the highway at Kainchi Mod near Pandoh Dam in Mandi district has completely collapsed. The road has sunk so badly that even pedestrian movement is no longer possible.
Before this incident, the highway was already closed due to falling rocks near Banala, and heavy vehicles were halted at Nau Mile. Restoration work was planned for today, but the sudden collapse near Kainchi Mod has caused significant damage, delaying any repair plans.
Long Delay in Restoration Likely
The damaged section near Kainchi Mod appears beyond immediate repair, and no viable alternative route is currently visible. Officials suggest it may take a long time to restore connectivity in the area.
Traffic Rerouted via Kataula Road
At present, the only operational route to Kullu from Mandi is via Kataula, where small vehicles are being allowed at hourly intervals. This has become the sole access route to Kullu-Manali, but even this road faces frequent closures at places like Kannauj.
A Repeat of 2023?
In 2023, a similar disaster occurred in this region when a large section of the highway sank into the Pandoh Dam. It took nearly eight months to rebuild and restore the route. This time, the situation seems worse as there are no known alternative roads available near the newly damaged site.
The administration now faces a critical challenge. Without a swift solution, the region’s tourism and logistics could be heavily impacted in the coming days.
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