Landslide hits vehicle on Banoh–Sarli road
Two persons, including a child, were injured after mounds of debris and boulders rolled down a hillside and crashed onto an Innova car on the Banoh–Sarli road in the Kunihar area of Solan district on Friday morning. The car was carrying five occupants when the incident occurred. The driver, Mehar Chand, and a child sustained serious injuries and were admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Three women travelling in the vehicle escaped with minor injuries.
Rescue efforts and vehicle damage
Villagers rushed to rescue the occupants after they heard a loud thud and saw a car buried in the debris. The car suffered immense damage in the accident as a huge boulder smashed through the front view mirror and injured the driver and a child. According to eyewitnesses, the boulder struck the vehicle with such force that the car was crushed under the debris, leaving it unrecognizable.
Residents demand road repairs or closure
Decrying the apathy of the Public Works Department (PWD), residents said that the road had remained unrepaired despite suffering immense damage during the last monsoon. They demanded that either the road be closed for vehicular traffic or should be repaired to ensure safety of the motorists. Locals have been raising concerns about the precarious condition of the road for months, but no action has been taken by the authorities.
"The road has been in a dangerous state since last year's rains. We have alerted the PWD multiple times, but they have done nothing. Now a family has been put at risk," said a local resident who witnessed the incident.
Ongoing monsoon risks in Himachal
This incident highlights the vulnerability of hilly regions in Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon season. Landslides and falling boulders are common occurrences, often leading to casualties and property damage. The state government has issued advisories for motorists to avoid travel in landslide-prone areas, but road maintenance remains a challenge. The injured are currently undergoing treatment, and further details are awaited from hospital authorities.
