State Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satpal Maharaj carried out a surprise inspection of rain-damaged sections near Pani Wala Bend in Kolhukhet, Mussoorie, and of the under-construction double-lane bridge at Km 18 on the Dehradun–Mussoorie State Highway No. 1. He reviewed restoration and construction progress and instructed officials to expedite work so normal traffic movement can be restored at the earliest.

On the night of 20 July 2026 heavy rainfall caused about 20 metres of the roadway near Pani Wala Bend to collapse, reducing the usable width to about two and a half metres. The department immediately deployed JCB machines and began restoration work, and additional hill cutting is being carried out where required to restore safe and smooth traffic movement. The minister said the focus remains on rapid stabilisation and public safety.

The Uttarakhand slope treatment agency ULLMC inspected vulnerable locations at Km 20 and Km 25 and recommended slope protection and other safety measures, which will be initiated at the earliest to enhance route stability. The bridge project at Km 18 is a 60-metre span double-lane Class A/70R loading steel box bridge being built at a cost of Rs 120 mn to replace the damaged single-lane structure. Fabrication has been completed and ground erection work is under way.

On the Dehradun side excavation and concreting of seven piles have been completed while the remaining two are scheduled for completion by 30 July 2026. On the Mussoorie side excavation and concreting of three out of nine piles have been finished and work on the remainder is progressing rapidly, with excavation on the Dehradun side also being expedited using a ring machine. The inspection was attended by Rajesh Sharma, Chief Engineer, PWD; OP Singh, Superintending Engineer; and Rajesh Kumar, Executive Engineer.