2,000 tourists stuck in Lahaul Spiti

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 19

Around 2,000 tourists have been stuck in different parts of the tribal district Lahaul Spiti since Saturday because heavy rains have damaged the Manali-Leh highway and Gramphu-Kaza road at several places. The rivulets flowing on the way to these highways are flooded, hampering traffic movement completely since Saturday.

Late on Monday, BRO restored the Manali-Leh highway for traffic movement, while it will take time to restore Gramphu-Kaza road. However, district administrations of Kullu and Lahaul Spiti have decided to allow traffic movement on Manali-Leh highway on Tuesday morning in view of public safety. 

According to sources, a large number of tourists were stuck at Koksar and Sissu in the two days because Teling nullah, on the way, is heavily flooded. Around 400 vehicles were stuck on the way between Koksar and Sissu. 

Similarly, a large number of tourists were stranded between Kaza and Gramphu at Chhatru and Losar and Chandertal. Yesterday around 150 tourists were rescued by BRO from the area and transported to safer places. Some tourists were stranded between Jispa and Darcha in Lahaul Spiti, waiting desperately for the road to open to move to their respective destinations.

The telecommunication services are erratic in the region adding to the woes of tourists and locals alike.

Talking to The Tribune Uma Shankar, BRO, said “The Manali-Leh highway was restored for traffic on Monday evening. The Gramphu-Kaza road is still blocked because a huge portion of road from Gramphu 

5 km ahead towards Kaza had been completely washed away because of flash flood. “It will take more than two days to restore the road because we will have to build a new structure”, he said.

Manali SDM Amit Gularia said, “We will allow traffic movement on Manali-Leh highway on Tuesday morning. During night hours, the driving is risky on the route because of heavy rains and the road being prone to landslide at several places.”