A late-night crash in Kullu has once again put the spotlight on the pathetic state of the Aut-Luhri-Sainj National Highway (NH-305). On Saturday evening, a Tempo Traveller carrying several tourists met with an accident in Sojha, leaving many injured. This isn’t a one-off case; it’s a terrifying pattern on a road that feels more like a broken village track than a National Highway.
The numbers are shocking. In the last five years alone, this stretch has seen 298 accidents. The situation is only getting worse-while 48 accidents were recorded in 2020-21, that number jumped to a record 71 accidents in 2024-25.
A 10,000-Foot Death Trap
This 97-km highway is the main lifeline for over 2 lakh people living in Banjar, Gadagushaini, and Bali Chowki. It climbs up to the Jalori Pass, sitting at a massive height of 10,280 feet. Every day, thousands of tourists risk their lives driving through a patchwork of deep potholes and broken edges.
The stretch from Banjar to Jalori Jot is in such a bad state that it has become a nightmare for travelers. Despite being a vital route, it remains narrow, damaged, and dangerous.
Why Brakes Fail on These Slopes
There is a technical reason why so many “outsider” vehicles crash here. The road is full of extremely steep climbs and sharp descents. Drivers who aren’t from the hills tend to use their brakes constantly, causing the brake linings to overheat and eventually fail.
Local drivers know the trick—they drive in low gears and take frequent breaks to let the wheels cool down. But tourists are often unaware of this. Initial reports suggest that brake failure was the cause behind the recent Sojha accident as well.
The Rising Toll at “Black Spots”
Certain areas on this route have become infamous “black spots.” Between 2021 and 2025, 20 people lost their lives at just one spot-Jalora. Other dangerous zones include: Sojha, Ghiyagi, Jalora.
From Protests to the High Court
The aam aadmi, local shopkeepers, and even political leaders are fed up. They have staged many protests and dharnas demanding that the sarkar widen and repair the road. Local MLA Surender Shourie has also raised the issue multiple times, but so far, no real work has happened on the ground.
Now, the battle has reached the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Teja Singh Thakur, President of the Kullu Bar Association, has filed a petition highlighting the lack of safety and poor maintenance. Taking the matter seriously, the High Court has now demanded an answer from the State Government and the National Highways Authority.
For the families living in these hills, the wait for a safe road continues.
