Solan, July 13:Heavy rain since Friday night has led to a number of landslides on the Parwanoo-Solan stretch of the National Highway that is being four-laned.
Maximum landslides were witnessed from Tambu Mor to Sanwara, where a large section of the lane facing the hill has been rendered risky for driving owing to large boulders and debris that have rolled down from the excavated hill.Traffic is plying only through the single lane at such vulnerable spots as the hill lane has been closed for traffic as a precautionary measure.
With boulders continuing to roll down even after the rain subsided, driving has become risky and motorists are apprehensive about driving from Dharampur to Parwanoo.
Fragile rocky strata have crumbled down near Tambu Mor where the entire lane has been blocked and big boulders can be seen falling down every now and then.
What has added to the risk is the precariously hanging uprooted trees and loose boulders which can give way any time as GR Infraprojects, the firm four-laning the highway, has failed to clear them. Several such trees can be seen hanging dangerously at Patta Ka Mor near Kumarhatti, where the four-laning work is in full swing.
Though the private company had engaged adequate staff and machinery to clear the road of debris, there has been no end to the landslides that were triggered each time it rained.
Rakesh Gupta, a motorist driving towards Solan, says, “Driving on the highway is risky, especially at night, as one can’t see the vulnerable spots from where boulders and debris are rolling down and the risk will be enhanced in the days to come as trucks carrying apples will slow down the pace of traffic on the highway.”
With several vehicles having been damaged because of the rolling boulders, fear is palpable among the motorists driving on the highway.
