A stretch of the Mandi-Pathankot highway caved in near Maigal in Mandi district's Padhar sub-division on Friday morning due to heavy rainfall over the past three days. The administration immediately closed the road for repairs, causing traffic jams and forcing motorists to take alternate routes to reach Mandi and Jogindernagar.
Orange Alert Issued for May 3-4
The Meteorological Centre, Shimla, has issued an orange alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in several districts on May 3 and 4. On May 3, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla are under alert, while on May 4, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur will be affected. Light to moderate rainfall and light snow are predicted in parts of the state until May 7.
Road Restoration Efforts
Padhar SDM Surjit Singh stated that restoring the road would take time as an entire stretch had caved in. He appealed to travelers and local residents to avoid this route and opt for alternate roads. Meanwhile, the high-altitude Shinkula Pass, linking Lahaul-Spiti with the Zanskar valley of Ladakh, was temporarily blocked on Thursday after a small bridge collapsed under a loaded truck. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully pulled out the stranded vehicle on Friday, restoring traffic. However, the pass remains open only for 4x4 vehicles, according to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Lahaul-Spiti.
Temperature and Avalanche Report
On Friday, Una recorded the highest maximum temperature of 35.2°C, which is 2.2° below normal, while Tabo recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 3.2°C. A minor avalanche hit near Satrundi on the Sach Pass-Killar road in Chamba district on Thursday, blocking the route and halting ongoing restoration work. Officials said a public works department (PWD) team was clearing snow when the avalanche swept onto the stretch. The workers moved machinery to safety and took shelter, narrowly averting a mishap. The Sach Pass, which links Chamba with the remote Pangi valley and Lahaul-Spiti, remains closed during winters and is yet to reopen.
