BRO reopens Manali-Keylong highway

Our Correspondent

KULLU, APRIL 13

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has again cleared snow from 13,050-feet high Rohtang Pass after the snowfall at the peaks on April 11 and 12 had hampered the movement of vehicles. Earlier the Manali-Keylong road was connected by the BRO on April 5 but traffic came to a halt after the Rohtang again received about two feet of snow.

The BRO’s 38 Border Road Task Force (BRTF) commander Colonel AK Awasthi said that snow had been cleared from Manali-Rohtang-Keylong highway. He said that teams of jawans moved towards Rohtang from its both sides and accomplished the task late on Friday. A few vehicles went from Manali side to Keylong.

The district administration had made an arrangement that one day vehicles will move from the Manali side toward Keylong, while on the other day vehicles would be allowed from the Lahaul side towards Manali.

The road remains closed for traffic for about six months during winters due to accumulation of heavy snow on the Pass, gateway to Lahaul valley. Every year the Rohtang receives heavy snowfall, which cuts off the residents of Lahaul Spiti from the rest of the state for several months.

The Rohtang Pass is a major attraction for the tourists and the district administration has said that tourist vehicles would be allowed after broadening job is completed by the BRO and there are adequate parking facilities.