A large-scale protest by various organisations from Punjab has been under way since Wednesday morning at the Garamore Barrier on Kiratpur-Manali highway in the border area of Himachal and Punjab in Bilaspur district, severely disrupting traffic movement in the area.
The demonstrators have raised strong demands for the complete abolition of the entry fee imposed for entering Himachal.
During the protest, participants raised slogans against chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
The protest has led to a significant traffic jam at the barrier, causing major inconvenience to the general public. Hundreds of vehicles have been stranded since morning, including those carrying patients, office-goers, and schoolchildren.
Several patients travelling for medical treatment have reportedly been unable to reach hospitals on time due to the congestion.
The situation has also affected public transport, with around 10 buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation stuck in the traffic, leaving passengers facing considerable hardship.
To manage the situation, a heavy police presence has been deployed at the site. The police and local administration are in talks with the protesters in an effort to clear the road and restore normal traffic flow. However, at the time of reporting, the jam remained unresolved.
People stuck in the traffic have expressed frustration towards both the administration and the protesters, stating that the sudden demonstration has caused unnecessary disruption. Authorities have assured that efforts are underway to resolve the issue soon as possible and normalise the situation.
