Landslide blocks Bagheigarh-Chanju road in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

The Bagheigarh-Chanju road in the Churah subdivision of Chamba district remained blocked after a major landslide at Chursiyo on Monday, cutting off key villages and disrupting traffic movement in the region.

The incident occurred near Chursiyo village in Chanju panchayat , where a sudden collapse of the hillside sent massive rocks, soil and debris crashing onto the roadway. The landslide completely severed connectivity to the Chanju and Dehra Gram Panchayats , leaving several villages cut off from the main road network.

Eyewitnesses said that small stones had begun falling earlier in the day , prompting locals to act swiftly and stop traffic movement before the main slide occurred. This timely precaution helped prevent casualties, as no vehicles were present on the stretch when the landslide struck. Videos from the site showed a large portion of the hillside collapsing within seconds, burying the road under debris.

Following the incident, long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the blocked stretch as traffic came to a complete halt. Authorities deployed machinery to clear the debris, and restoration work has been underway since the incident , though officials have warned that unstable slopes are slowing progress. In one related incident during clearance work, falling stones reportedly injured a JCB operator, leading to a temporary pause in operations in some stretches.

Officials have urged the public to avoid the route and maintain a safe distance, noting that the area remains vulnerable to further shooting stones and slope instability . As of the latest updates, the road is still not fully restored , and connectivity remains disrupted.

Meanwhile, weather conditions have added to concerns. The Himachal Pradesh Meteorological Department has forecast a wet spell from April 16 to 19 , triggered by a weak Western Disturbance expected to affect the Western Himalayan region from April 15. Authorities fear that fresh rainfall could trigger additional landslides in already fragile zones of Chamba district.

In the wider regional context, Chamba has witnessed multiple landslides in recent days, including road blockages and infrastructure damage across hilly terrain, highlighting continued vulnerability during the pre-monsoon transition period.