96 construction workers at Rohtang tunnel taken to safety

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, December 20

As many as 96 of the 164 personnel engaged in the construction of the 8.8-km Rohtang Tunnel at its north portal near Sissu in the Lahaul valley were evacuated in helicopters at Bhang near Manali and Bhuntar airport today.

RS Rao, Executive Engineer of the project, confirmed that the personnel were airlifted due to the recent snowfall and blockage of the Rohtang Pass. The date to carry out the excavation at the north portal of the tunnel towards Khoksar had been extended, which was generally halted for three months around November due to severe winters and heavy snowfall, he added.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter ferried over 20 personnel from the Sissu helipad to the Bhuntar airport while around 76 personnel were ferried at the Bhang helipad by a chartered helicopter. He thanked the authorities of the IAF for providing quick aid. The remaining personnel will be airlifted tomorrow, Rao said.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the Borders Road Organisation (BRO) stated that they were close to restoring the Rohtang Pass road between Manali and Khoksar to assist the movement of personnel engaged in excavation at the north portal.

There were reports that while the road had been restored till about 6 km short of the Rohtang Pass, a few vehicles remained buried under the snow on the Marhi-Rohtang stretch.

Kullu ADM Vinay Singh Thakur said electricity supply had been restored in most of the regions of Kullu and Manali districts. There were a few reports of damage to the water supply and various departments had been mobilised for repair of the damaged or affected services at the earliest, he added.