Landslide blocks road in Nainital

Heavy rainfall in Nainital has brought a landslide onto a road, hampering traffic and affecting businesses.

Rains since Sunday evening brought what it seemed the whole mountain down onto the mall road, Nainital's prime destination for hotels and businesses.

Huge amounts of debris have blocked access to the main market and efforts to remove the silt and debris have been continuing.

"Four machines have been working continuously to clear the road. Twelve other machines have been put to dispose of the debris. We had started the work at around 6 a.m. and have been working continuously. We remove debris but find more and more coming down again. That is one problem we are facing," said Executive Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD), Nainital, S. K. Garg.

Hoteliers and tourists have both been affected badly. Many came out on to the road to watch the debris being removed.

Heavy rainfall often causes landslides in hilly regions blocking roads as a result and cutting off towns.