SHIMLA, Aug. 17 — Heavy rainfall has caused a portion of the Shimla-Mandi road near Tattapani to sink into the Sutlej river, disrupting traffic and leaving only a narrow stretch usable, officials said Sunday.
According to the district administration, the road has been gradually caving in due to continuous downpours, reducing its width to just 4.2 meters. With half of the carriageway lost, authorities have restricted vehicular movement, warning that further sinking could make the road unsafe.
Meanwhile, the State Meteorological Department issued an orange weather warning for Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Solan and Sirmaur districts for the next several hours. The advisory said these areas are likely to witness light to moderate showers, along with isolated spells of heavy rainfall.
A yellow alert was also sounded for Shimla, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti districts, where light to moderate rain at scattered locations is expected.
Officials said monitoring of vulnerable roads and riverbanks is underway, and residents have been urged to remain cautious, particularly in landslide-prone zones.
