Dharamshala Ropeway Halted After Landslide Near Pillar No. 5

The Dharamshala Ropeway, a vital 1.8-km aerial link between Lower Dharamshala and McLeodganj, was temporarily suspended on Wednesday following a landslide near its critical support structure, Pillar No. 5. Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa, also Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, issued an order citing passenger safety concerns and mandated strict compliance from the ropeway’s operating agency.

The landslide, reported by the Dharamshala Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), compromised the approach structure of Pillar No. 5, raising significant risks. Invoking Sections 30 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Bairwa directed an immediate halt to all ropeway operations until further notice.

A technical committee, including geological experts from Central University-Dharamshala, representatives from various departments, and Dharamshala Municipal Corporation officials, has been tasked with inspecting the site within two days and submitting a detailed report. The resumption of services hinges on the committee’s findings.

Inaugurated in January 2022 by then-Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, the Rs 207-crore ropeway features 10 support towers and 18 gondolas, each carrying up to eight passengers. It has become a major tourist attraction, easing travel between Dharamshala and the bustling McLeodganj, home to the Tibetan government-in-exile.

However, heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh, which triggered multiple landslides, has heightened concerns about the region’s infrastructure stability. Posts on X noted debris entering nearby properties, including a union minister’s home, underscoring the landslide’s severity.

Also Read: Kathua Cloudburst: Landslide in Multiple Villages Claim Seven Lives

Bairwa instructed the district superintendent of police and SDM to enforce the suspension rigorously. The decision reflects broader challenges in Himachal, where recent monsoon-related damages, including 184 deaths and Rs 1,714 crore in losses, have strained disaster management efforts. Authorities remain vigilant as the region braces for further rainfall.

Also Read: Mumbai in Chaos: Floods Cripple City After 200mm Rainfall