Traffic hit hard as Baddi bridge collapses after heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh (original) (raw)

The Baddi Barrier bridge in Himachal Pradesh collapsed following heavy rain Wednesday. Meanwhile, the traffic on Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway-5 was disrupted for several hours after multiple rain-triggered landslides hit the stretch.

The Solan administration is using social media to divert traffic from Chandigarh and Panchkula through Barotiwala.

“We are telling people to stay indoors until things get better. The NHAI is putting up clear signs for drivers. The Baddi bridge is down, so we are using a different path through Barotiwala,” said Solan DC Manmohan Sharma.

The Baddi bridge collapse hit the industrial hub hard. Baddi SP Mohit Chawla explained, “The main Baddi bridge’s central pillar fell this morning, putting the whole bridge at risk… We have made a new route — Maranwala-Barotiwala-Baddi — for heavy vehicles. Other cars are using the Baddi-Barotiwala-Maranwala-Chandigarh-Kharar alternative route.”

He said the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) will take around three months to repair the bridge and a new bridge could take over six months.

The closure of the Chandigarh-Shimla highway at Chakki Mor further compounded traffic woes. SP Chawla said, “We are sending traffic through Barotiwala-Patta-Subathu to Shimla. It is a big problem for Baddi. Luckily, the new Lakkar depot bridge from Baddi to Barotiwala is open. It is busy but crucial.”

Baddi Deputy Superintendent of Police Priyank Gupta has proposed restricting heavy vehicle traffic from Baddi to Pinjore via Barotiwala from 7 am to 11 am and on the opposite route from 4 pm to 8 pm to avoid traffic congestion.

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Baddi Barrier bridge map. (Express Photo)

Alternative Traffic Routes

Coming from Haryana towards Baddi: Vehicles from Haryana will follow the Barotiwala-Lakkar Depot-Sun City Chowk-Toll barrier route to Red Light Chowk, Baddi.

Exit from Baddi to Pinjore and Chandigarh: Vehicles traveling from Baddi to Haryana or Chandigarh will exit via Red Light Chowk, continue through Sikka Hotel and Lakkar Depot, and then head to Barotiwala.

Traffic Disruptions on Chandigarh-Shimla highway

Multiple landslides on the Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway-5 during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday led to its temporary closure, causing hours of traffic disruption. The highway was later reopened for traffic.

An NHAI official stated, “The highway was closed at 3 am due to multiple landslides. It was reopened after six to seven hours. Given the continuous rainfall, GR Infra, the contractor, has been directed to deploy safety teams on the highway.”

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Commuters rued the ‘poor’ condition of the highway and expressed concern at the landslide-prone area not having ‘enough’ NHAI or police personnel to monitor traffic.

Debris and Disruption in Subathu

Intense rainfall resulted in a road blockage at Gaddon in Subathu, Himachal Pradesh with significant landslides leading to debris and slush water entering residences. Although no casualties were reported, several vehicles were buried under the debris. DC Solan Manmohan Sharma urged residents to stay home, report landslides or potential damage to the district administration promptly, and take necessary precautions.

Power Supply and Roads Impacted

The Solan district experienced power supply disruptions, causing inconvenience to residents. Suman Rani from Kasauli shared, “We faced an eight-hour power outage last night. Power and water supplies have been inconsistent this monsoon, affecting daily life.” Additionally, a total of 134 roads were blocked across the district. Efforts are underway to clear debris from multiple landslides that hit roads overnight.

School Closure Due to Orange Alert

With the India Meteorological Department issuing a three-day orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall, DC Manmohan Sharma declared the closure of all educational institutions, both private and government, in the district on August 24.