Keylong bus service suspended after snowfall at Rohtang Pass

Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 7

After fresh snowfall at 13,050-feet Rohtang Pass, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has suspended its bus service between Kullu and Keylong on the Manali-Leh highway via Rohtang Pass.

The HRTC had resumed its bus service between Kullu and Keylong from December 1 after the BRO had cleared the Rohtang Pass of snow to enable traffic movement. After fresh snowfall, the road has become slippery and plying of the bus on this route could prove risky.

Talking to The Tribune, Mangal Chand Manepa, Regional Manager of HRTC Depot at Keylong, said “In view of public safety we have suspended our HTRC bus service between Kullu and Keylong for the next few days till the road will not be restored by Border Roads Organization (BRO) for traffic movement”.

“We are keen to provide bus service to the people of tribal district of Lahaul Spiti in the coming days if the district administration and the BRO open the road for traffic movement”, said Manepa.

The people of Lahaul Spiti have urged the district administration to ask BRO authority to restore the road for traffic movement because there was mild snowfall at Rohtang Pass.

When contacted Deputy Commissioner Lahaul Spiti Deva Singh Negi he said, “We will request the BRO authority to clear snow on the Manali-Leh highway for traffic movement, which will be huge relief for the people of district.”

However, the BRO was reluctant to initiate snow-clearance operation. The authorities had earlier sent a letter to the district administration to stop normal traffic movement on the Manali-Leh highway because the area is prone to sudden snowfall during winter, which may pose threat to the commuters.

BRO commander AK Awasthi said there was prediction of heavy snowfall on December 11 onward and whether the road can be opened or not for traffic movement will depend upon weather conditions.