Pithoragarh admin shuts NH-9 for 3 days due to landslides

Pithoragarh: Recurring landslides in Swala village are causing severe traffic disruptions on the strategically important Tanakpur-Pithoragarh national highway, a crucial link for Pithoragarh district which also connects China and Nepal borders. Keeping in mind the dangers posed by landslides and rockslides, the district administration has decided to close the national highway-9 from Tuesday to Thursday.Champawat district magistrate Navneet Pande said, "Debris continues to fall on the upper side of the road at Swala. All vehicular movement has been halted for the next three days, from Sept 24 to 26. Light vehicles may use the Ritha Sahib route to reach Pithoragarh. The national highway authority is diligently working towards a permanent solution to this problem."Vendors who rely on heavy load carrying vehicles have been hit due to road blockade. Mohd Salim, a vegetable wholesaler, said he is now forced to take the Haldwani route, which is 100 km longer, to reach Pithoragarh, thereby increasing travel time and expenses.Mahesh Joshi, a shopkeeper, said vehicles transporting dairy products and construction material are facing operational difficulties.Shashi Shekhar Kapri, assistant regional manager of Uttarakhand State Road Transport Corporation in Pithoragarh, said, "Pithoragarh and Lohaghat depots are not operating at full capacity and are incurring daily losses of Rs 8 lakh due to the road closure."Heavy rainfall this year has caused a series of landslides. On Sept 13, the all-weather road was blocked at 10 different locations. Debris was cleared from most places but the situation at Swala remains unresolved. The road was briefly reopened on Sept 18 but was closed again.