Garhwal Post Bureau
Kalsi (Dehradun), 16 Jul: The Kalsi-Chakrata motor road was once again blocked today after a massive landslide struck the Jajred stretch, leaving over 200 vehicles stranded, and the collapse of portions of the retaining wall. Fortunately, no vehicles were on the affected patch when the landslide occurred. The unexpected blockage has brought vehicular movement to a standstill, and though debris was later cleared, the disruption continued for several hours.
The motor road had already faced closure yesterday due to similar debris accumulation, and the persistent downpour over the past week in Jaunsar Bawar has triggered landslides at multiple locations. Fifteen roads across the Jaunsar-Bawar region, including two State Highways, are currently shut. Among them, nine fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department (PWD) Sahia, five under PMGSY Kalsi, and one under PWD Construction Division Dehradun. The road closures have severely impacted connectivity for residents in nearly a hundred villages, compounding difficulties in both commuting and trade.
Two JCB machines were deployed to clear debris from the blocked road segments, and district authorities are coordinating with disaster response units to monitor further slides. The recurring obstruction has spotlighted infrastructure vulnerabilities in the region’s hilly terrain, especially during monsoon conditions. The authorities have urged the residents to avoid unnecessary travel, and the administration is engaged in restoration of motorable routes to reinstate vital supply lines.
As the result of the road blockages, the agricultural sector has been particularly affected, as farmers from Jaunsar Bawar, who are known for producing high-value crops, are struggling to transport their harvests to regional markets in Sahia, Vikasnagar and Dehradun, as well as out-of-state destinations. Crops including tomatoes, capsicum, ginger, cucumber, beans, green chillies, gagli, radish and coriander are at risk of spoiling due to stalled movement. The local traders are facing supply shortages, resulting in a noticeable spike in prices for hill-grown vegetables, forcing consumers to pay more.
