Rohtang road may stay blocked for six months

  • | Monday | 12th November, 2018

They say that they have already intimated Lahaul administration to make all preparations accordingly.Besides, BRO claims that there is Rohtang tunnel in case of emergency. Snowfall on Rohtang pass may put our passengers in trouble. Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus has alerted all the departments to stay alert in the next three days. We have received information that all emergency vehicles have already crossed Rohtang,” he said. Manali-Keylong is generally connected by road in late April or early May.Col AK Awasthi, BRO’s 38 Task Force commander, said: “Peaks are again receiving snow.

MANALI: With the Border Roads Organization (BRO) declaring that it is not economically viable to clear the snow-bound Rohtang road repeatedly, the expected snowfall in the next three days is likely to block the Manali-Rohtang-Keylong highway for six months.According to BRO, clearing snow is not only an extremely dangerous task but is also very expensive. Besides man power, the multiday snow clearance operation requires expensive machineries and thousands of litres of fuel. For the convenience of local residents of Lahaul and to help evacuate stranded vehicles, BRO had already cleared snow from Rohtang three times since September 25 this year.Since locals and Lahaul administration have completed all important pre-winter works, BRO officials said it would not be possible for them to clear snow anymore. They say that they have already intimated Lahaul administration to make all preparations accordingly.Besides, BRO claims that there is Rohtang tunnel in case of emergency. Thousands of people have been evacuated through the tunnel since September. The organization would start seasonal snow clearance from Manali towards Leh in March.According to BRO, it takes over a month to clear Manai-Rohtang highway. Manali-Keylong is generally connected by road in late April or early May.Col AK Awasthi, BRO’s 38 Task Force commander, said: “Peaks are again receiving snow. The highway generally closes for vehicles officially in October. We still opened it many times for public convenience. We have received information that all emergency vehicles have already crossed Rohtang,” he said. Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus has alerted all the departments to stay alert in the next three days. “We have received snowfall and rainfall warning in Kullu district from meteorological department. All departments have been asked to be ready to tackle any situation. People have been asked not to go toward avalanche-prone areas. People living in higher regions should not venture into isolated places unnecessarily during snowfall.”Taking precautionary measures, Himachal Roads Transport Corporation (HRTC) has suspended its bus service between Kullu and Lahaul via Rohtang pass. HRTC regional manager at Keylong, Mangal Chand Manepa, said: “There is forecast for heavy snowfall. We don’t want to take the risk. Snowfall on Rohtang pass may put our passengers in trouble. So, bus service will remain suspended until weather turns favourable,” he said.

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