46 stuck as snow clearing operations hit in Rohtang

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 and Spiti district and leaving some 46 people stranded at a rescue camp.

The mercury stayed between minus 8 degrees Celsius and minus 11 degrees Celsius in the high altitude tribal areas while Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur recorded a low of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius and minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, disrupting normal life, officials said.

Vehicular traffic on ManaliLeh highway came to a stand still following heavy snowfall at Rohtang pass on Saturday. Nearly 46 people were stranded on roads and were rescued and lodged in in Koksar village, 70km uphill from tourist town Manali. As many as 50 vehicles are still stranded on the roads.

The Border Roads Organisation, responsible for maintenance of border roads, pressed its machinery into service on Monday but intermittent snow spell hindered its operations.

All natural source of water in the high altitude tribal areas, including lakes, springs, rivulets and large stretch of the Chandrabhaga river were frozen due to extreme cold wave conditions.

“Snow on the roads have almost been cleared off, but frosting is hampering vehicular movement,” said 38th task force commander Col AK Awasthi.

“It’s a risk plying vehicles on the roads. The weather office has predicted a clear sky on Thursday, sunshine will further melt the frozen roads,” he said.

The temperature has dipped to minus 10 degrees Celsius in Rohtang, making it difficult to operate machines,” he said.

SHIMLA:

HT FILE/VIPIN KUMAR India will soon deploy an extended range BrahMos missile whose reach has been increased from 290km to 450km by tweaking the configuration of the existing weapon.

HT PHOTO Border Roads Organisation personnel try to clear snow at the Rohtang pass.