HRTC suspends services on 93 routes in Kullu, Manali dists

Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 15

Several buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) remained stranded in different areas of the district today.

HRTC Divisional Manager AN Salaria said they had to suspend services on 18 routes in the Sundernagar, Mandi and Sarkaghat Depots and nearly 34 buses remained stuck in snow. In Kullu district, 75 routes were suspended and nearly 40 buses remained trapped in the snow.

Several far-flung areas in the district remained inaccessible due to heavy snowfall for the second consecutive day.

Dozens of link roads remained closed as snow could not be cleared till this evening. People were forced to stay indoors as Seraj valley, Uttarshal, Chuhar valley, Karsog, Kamaru valley and Janjheli areas of the district remained cut off from the district headquarters.

Water and power supplies were affected and could not be restored in several areas as hundreds of poles were damaged.

HP State Electricity Board executive engineer KK Kapil said nearly 481 transformers were not working in the remote areas and efforts were on to restore the power supply at the earliest.

Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kadam said 30 JCB machines were pressed into service to clear the roads and all SDMs had been directed to restore water and power supplies in the respective areas at the earliest.