46 stuck as bad weather hits snow clearing ops in Rohtang
LAHAUL&SPITI CUT OFF Road likely to be opened for traffic today, say BRO officials
SHIMLA: Sub- zero temperature has slowed down Border Road Organisation’s snow clearance operation on 13,000-ft-high Rohtang, cutting off road connectivity to tribal Lahual & Spiti district and leaving over 40 people stranded at a rescue camp on Wednesday.
BRO officials have, however, said snow has been cleared in the area and the route will be opened for vehicular traffic on Thursday.
“Braving extreme cold and snow, BRO has opened the Rohtang Pass. Keeping in view the safety of commuters only, oneway traffic will be allowed from Kellong to Manali on November 23. From November 24, one-way traffic will be allowed from Manali to Keylong,” 38 Border Road Task Force commander AK Awasthi told media persons.
Traffic on the Manali-leh highway had come to a standstill following heavy snowfall at the Rohtang pass on Saturday. At least 46 persons, including patients and locals, were lodged at Kokhsar village, 70 km uphill from Manali. Around 50 vehicles coming from the Leh-ladakh side are also reportedly stuck in snow. Kokhsar is situated at a height of 10,030-ft above the sea level.
BRO, which is responsible for maintenance of border roads, had pressed it machinery into service on Monday, but intermittent snow continued to hinder its operations. “Snow on the road has almost been cleared, but frosting is hampering the vehicular movement,” Awasthi told Hindustan Times. “It’s risky plying vehicles on the roads. The weather office has predicted a clear sky on Thursday and sunshine will further melt frozen roads,” he added.
Lahaul & Spiti district police chief Gaurav Singh, meanwhile, said, “The temperature has dropped to minus 10°C at Rohtang and it is difficult to operate machines. Till the time we get a green signal from BRO, traffic will not be allowed to ply on the road.” Shimla meteorological centre has predicted dry weather for the next few days. Centre director Manmohan Singh has said more snow and rains are expected from November 27. “Night temperature may decrease in parts of the state in coming days,” he said.
Natural source of water in the high altitude areas, including lakes, springs, rivulets and large stretch of the Chandrabhaga river were frozen due to extreme cold wave conditions. MANALI SHIVERS AT -0.4°C
Manali saw the mercury drop below the freezing point, with its nearby hills wrapped in last week’s snowfall. The temperatures remained below the freezing point at many places located in the higher reaches in the state, the meteorological office here said, and added that it was likely to snow again in Himachal from November 24. Kalpa recorded a low of minus two degrees while temperature was minus 0.4 degrees in Manali. Shimla recorded a low of 6.1 degree Celsius.