Sunday Special!-Sultan of the Roads!

 Sultan of The Roads!

Public Works Department Rest Hose Pandoh Himachal Pradesh India

Pandoh Aut Road-Portion of Mandi Manaali Road in Himachal Pradesh India

It was the year 1965,before reorganisation of Punjab I was posted as Sub Division Engineer Public Works Department with headquarter at Kulu. My jurisdiction extended from Pathankot to Manali. Aut to Jalodi Pass,Bajar to Bathaad,Larji to Beshlow Pass.On Patankot Road -Manali road important towns en -route were Baijnath, Joginder Nagar, Mandi,Pandoh Aut Katrain. The entire road was a Two-lane road except a portion between Pandoh and Aut which was a single lane .There were Barriers at Pandoh and Aut. The traffic was released alternately from each end after every two hours. A bridge was under construction in between. There was no space for diversion and to keep the traffic going, and simultaneous construction of bridge,on both sides of the bridge Ramps were made and a Bailey bridge (borrowed from the Army )was provided. Underneath the bailey bridge the construction of the bridge was going on. Barriers were made on both side at the start of ramps at the bridge site. Help of the bailey bridge was taken by suspending bridge material from it with the help of 'Tirfors'(Pulling and lifting machine) borrowed from the Forest Department. Anybody having a jeep was considered to be king of the road. The road gangs supported Red turban and had the self-acquired power to stop any bus of Mandi- Kulu transport and get any one a free ride of the bus and also loading boxes of fruit for families of the officers to be delivered at Chandigarh Bus station for free.

Once Deputy Commissioner of Mandi wanted to travel to Kulu and broke the barrier at Pandoh and but was stopped at the bridge barrier by 'beldar'(a member of the gang) on Barrier duty. The driver ordered the beldar to open the barrier .The beldar  pointed towards me signalling to have my permission (I was sitting on a chair besides a water fall enjoying mangos and plums floating in pool at the foot of the fall). The Personal assistant of the D.C. then came to me and told me that D.C Sahib was in the jeep. When I said, 'So what?' ,the D.C. came to me and ordered to let his jeep cross the bridge as he was going for some important duty. On my refusal, he threatened me with dire consequences. I offered him to join me in eating Ice cold fruit floating in the plunge pool of the water fall but in a fit of rage he preferred to sit in his jeep for two hours. When traffic from Aut arrived, his driver honked continuously to allow him to cross the bridge first but I paid no head and allowed him to cross the bridge only after Aut side traffic cleared.

One day I was sitting in Pandoh Rest house, a bunch of young boys came to rest house to drink water. They had cycled their way and were perspiring profusely. I allowed them in, made them use the bath room and made them sit in the sofa sets to relax. Served them with cold water from the fridge. I asked them where were they coming from and going to, They told me that they were students of College at Mandi and had gone to Manali to see the film shooting going on there. I told them that film shooting is a very boring thing why did they take the trouble of cycling 90 miles for this event. They said distance was no issue but disappointment is. When asked why they were disappointed they told me that they did not know it was the last day of shooting and were not allowed to go near the shooting site as they were about to pack up.

I told them there was no point to be disappointed rather you have saved yourself from boredom. I asked them," by the way what was the craze to see the shooting". They explained that they wanted to see the actors from close, wanted to have chat with them, have their autograph and click pictures with them.

I asked them what if I turn your disappointment to your appointment, how would they feel. They in one voice said. 'On the top of the world. "I told them to relax in the rooms and let me try. Hoping against hope they agreed to have a nap.

I called my dare devil Junior engineer Sabhlok, a guy who would obey the orders blindly without application of mind. I instructed him to close Pandoh-Mandi road, Putting barriers on both sides. He took a compressor,Jack hammer,Gelatin,fuse and detonator, sounded the siren and blasted a rock having huge overburden. Beas river on one side and mountain range on the other, the road was completely blocked. Head office and district administration was informed telegraphically about the blockade by slippage and earth moving machinery like front end loader, grader and bulldozer were pressed in service and barriers removed traffic from both sides allowed to reach blockade site. With light machinery ramps were made on both sides of the Mond of debris and slopes eased and pedestrians and cyclist were allowed to cross. The ramps were further eased and light vehicle were allowed to cross. Only heavy vehicles remained stranded but work was in full swing. The drivers of cars would lower their window panes thank Mr.Sabhlock for his efficiency, dedication and management of crisis skills

The film team and their entourage were sitting in their vehicles' Sabhlok approached the actors and told them to be comfortable in our rest house and that they would be informed as and when the road becomes traffic Worthy for which he was doing his best. He brought them to the rest house served them with tea and snacks. The actors were Sadhna,Shammi Kapur,Dhumal,Helen. Sadhna was 'Tully'(fully drunk).I called the boys into the living room and signalled them to have feast of their eyes, fulfil their desire to their heart's content, telling them to make their day and that now it was their turn to allow them to leave. The boys had interaction with their favorite stars and were so overjoyed that every one of them parted giving me a tight hug and touching my feet. 

The power I enjoyed could not be exercised even by the Prime minister of the country!

-Tejinder Kamboj

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      (1940-20??)