Heavy rain has severely disrupted road connectivity in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, with more than 120 roads blocked at several locations, officials said on Tuesday. The disruption has affected traffic movement between Mandi and Kullu as well as other parts of the district.
Kiratpur-Manali Highway Blocked by Shooting Stones
The Mandi-Kullu stretch of the Kiratpur-Manali Highway via Pandoh has been blocked to traffic following shooting stones at Jhalogi. According to The Tribune, authorities said traffic movement will be regulated once the situation normalises and the road is considered safe for commuters.
The highway closure is a major blow for travellers, as the Kiratpur-Manali route is a key link for those heading to popular destinations like Kullu and Manali. The shooting stones — loose rocks falling from hill slopes — have made the stretch unsafe for vehicles, forcing authorities to halt traffic entirely.
Alternative Route Also Blocked by Landslide
Commuters looking for a way around the highway closure face another problem. The alternative Mandi-Kullu route via Kataula is also currently blocked due to a landslide near Kandi, leaving commuters with limited options for travelling between the two districts.
This double closure means that people who need to travel between Mandi and Kullu have very few choices. The situation is especially difficult for those who rely on these roads for daily commutes, transport of goods, or emergency travel.
"Traffic movement will be regulated once the situation normalises and the road is considered safe for commuters." — The Tribune
Widespread Road Closures Across the District
The scale of the disruption is significant. More than 120 roads across Mandi district are blocked, not just the main highway. This means that even local routes within the district are affected, cutting off villages and smaller towns from each other and from the district headquarters.
Officials are monitoring the situation, but with heavy rain continuing, the risk of further landslides and shooting stones remains high. The priority, according to authorities, is safety — roads will only reopen once they are deemed safe for travel.
Our Take: Safety Must Come First, But Commuters Need Answers
In our view, the decision to block these roads is the right one. Shooting stones and landslides are unpredictable, and the risk to human life is simply too high to allow traffic through unsafe stretches. No journey is worth a life.
However, the authorities need to act quickly to provide clear information to commuters. With both the main highway and the alternative route blocked, people are left guessing about when they can travel and what options they have. Regular updates, clear signage, and a timeline for road repairs would go a long way in reducing the chaos.
This incident also highlights a bigger issue — how vulnerable mountain roads are to heavy rain. As weather patterns become more extreme, districts like Mandi will need stronger infrastructure and faster response systems to keep roads open and people safe.
For now, travellers should avoid non-essential trips to the affected areas and follow official updates before planning any journey through Mandi or towards Kullu.