Traffic restored on Chamba-Holi road

Chamba, August 12

The Chamba-Holi road that was blocked due to a massive landslide at Khadamukh was restored to traffic on Monday, bringing much-needed relief to residents of the Holi valley and motorists who were stranded due to the road closure a day ago.

The Public Works Department (PWD) had already stationed its machinery at the site in view of the risk of landslides. As soon as the road was blocked, the department started removing the debris. However, the continuous threat of further slides made the work challenging. The department resumed the work early today morning and the road was reopened around 2 pm.

The road closure caused inconvenience to commuters, besides delaying the supply of essential goods such as vegetables, milk, eggs and bread was to the Holi area.

The hillside near Khadamukh, along the Chamba-Holi Road, continues to pose a serious threat to the motorists. Early this year, the Holi valley had remained cut off from the district headquarters for nearly two months due to a landslide at the same spot.

The administration and departments concerned have advised motorists and public to exercise caution when crossing this stretch. “We urge motorists and public to prioritise safety when passing through this area as the risk of landslide looms large here,” said Bhan Chand Thakur, Assistant Engineer of the Public Works Department. — OC