Mandi, Himachal Pradesh – July 13, 2025:
A massive landslide hit the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday afternoon, leading to a complete shutdown of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway (NH-3). The incident, which occurred near the Four Mile area on the Mandi-Pandoh road around 1:30 PM, has left thousands of commuters stranded for over 20 hours with no food, water, or proper shelter.
Despite prompt deployment of rescue teams, continuous falling rocks and debris have severely hampered road clearance operations. Long queues of vehicles, including private cars, tourist cabs, buses, and trucks, remain stuck on both sides of the highway, turning the vital tourist and trade route into a humanitarian crisis zone.
Fruit and Vegetable Traders Hit Hard
Among the most affected are truck drivers transporting perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables from remote Himachal regions like Tandi and Keylong to major mandis in Delhi. Several drivers, including Gurmeet Singh from Punjab, Kala from Haryana, and Jahangir from Jammu, reported they had already endured a 10-hour hold-up near Aut Tunnel before getting trapped again at Four Mile for the past 21 hours.
Drivers complained of rising temperatures and humidity causing rapid spoilage of goods. “We were told the road would open soon, but it’s been more than 20 hours. We have no food or water, and our vegetables are rotting. We fear major financial losses,” said Gurmeet Singh.
They further explained that delayed delivery not only affects their transportation earnings but also often results in full rejection of the produce by wholesale buyers in Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi.
Authorities Begin Relief Operations
Local police outpost in-charge Anil Katouch informed that road-clearing work began at 8:00 AM Sunday morning, with hopes of reopening the highway by afternoon. However, he acknowledged that persistent landslides and falling rocks on Saturday made it unsafe to begin operations earlier.
Small vehicles are now being redirected through alternative village roads, but heavy vehicles like trucks, buses, and jeeps remain stuck in the debris-covered zone. Earth-moving machinery and rescue personnel have been deployed, but the sheer scale of the landslide spread over several kilometers is making progress slow.
Tourists and Families in Distress
The Chandigarh-Manali highway is not only a key trade route but also among the busiest tourist roads in North India. Hundreds of tourists from Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana had been heading to Manali for the weekend when the route was blocked. Now, they find themselves stuck with no restrooms, clean drinking water, or shelters along the highway.
Many women, children, and elderly passengers are reported to be suffering due to lack of basic facilities. Some travelers blamed the administration for not issuing timely weather warnings or risk alerts, especially during peak monsoon season when landslides are common in this region.
Rising Public Pressure on Administration
The landslide has triggered widespread frustration, with many citizens taking to social media to demand accountability and swift action. Hashtags like #MandiLandslide, #NH3Blocked, and #RescueStrandedPeople have started trending, with users sharing videos, photos, and appeals for help.
Residents and travelers are calling on the government to expedite road clearance, deploy medical teams, and supply essential commodities such as food, water, and medicines to the stranded people. Some NGOs and local volunteers have also started distributing snacks and water to those trapped.
Experts Call for Better Monitoring of Landslide Zones
Experts have long warned that the Mandi-Pandoh section of NH-3 is extremely landslide-prone due to fragile soil and unstable slopes. The ongoing monsoon season increases this risk manifold. Yet, authorities reportedly failed to place warning signs or inform commuters about the dangers on this route ahead of time.
Geological surveys have identified this area as a “sensitive landslide corridor,” and urban planners have repeatedly urged for real-time landslide monitoring, installation of early warning systems, and better roadside infrastructure.
Key Takeaways and Future Concerns
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Thousands of commuters remain stranded with no food or water since Saturday afternoon.
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Fruit and vegetable traders fear heavy financial losses due to perishable goods spoiling.
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Rescue and road clearing work began Sunday morning, but full restoration may take longer.
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Tourists, women, and elderly face severe hardships in the absence of basic amenities.
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Experts demand stricter landslide management, especially during the monsoon.
Until full clearance is achieved, commuters are advised to avoid the NH-3 route and follow updates from Himachal Pradesh’s Disaster Management Authority or district administration.
