Shimla, April 10 Traffic was disrupted on a section of National Highway-5 between Shimla and Kalka following a landslide in the Dharampur area of Solan district on Friday.
Traffic had already been restricted to a single lane at this location due to previous restrictions, when around 4 pm, debris came crashing down the hillside, blocking the only accessible lane, an eyewitness said.
Consequently, long traffic jams were seen on both sides of the blocked stretch as a team from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) rushed to the site to clear the debris and restore traffic movement.
A video of debris rolling down the hillside is already circulating on social media platforms.
The Shimla meteorological office has predicted rainfall in isolated parts of the state on Saturday and Sunday, and Wednesday and Thursday next week as a fresh, weak western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayas from April 15.
The weather office has issued a warning for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds up to 30 kmph in isolated areas in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts on Saturday.
Light rainfall occurred in parts of Himachal Pradesh in the 24 hours since Thursday evening, with Guler recording the highest precipitation of 10.6 mm, followed by Jot with 10 mm, Kangra 9.6 mm, Kataula 9.2 mm, Khadrala 6.4 mm, Rohru 6 mm, Mandi 5.4 mm, and Dharamshala 5.2 mm.
Hailstorm lashed Shilaroo in Shimla while thunderstorms occurred in Kangra, Bhuntar, Sundernagar, Shimla, and Jubberhatti, and light fog was observed in Sundernagar.
Keylong recorded the coldest night at minus 1 degree Celsius, while Una was the hottest during the day at 28.4 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, reports of landslides are also coming in from Summerhill and Kuftadhar areas of Shimla.
A potential danger looms over three houses in the Kuftadhar area in the outskirts of Shimla town after a landslide, allegedly triggered by cutting into a hillside for an under-construction house situated downhill.
Cutting work has been stopped, and a notice has been issued to the owner of the under-construction site to install a retaining wall on the spot, officials said.
In Summerhill, a retaining wall collapsed, prompting fear among residents over a possible landslide.