23 rescued from Rohtang Pass

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, September 23

The Kullu police rescued 23 stranded persons from Rohtang Pass on Sunday while five vehicles were still trapped as the sudden heavy snowfall blocked the Manali-Leh highway.

The stranded persons were on their way to Lahaul when it started snowing on the Rohtang and their vehicles stuck. The pass received 45cm of snow, which cut off residents of Lahaul Spiti with the rest of the state.

SP Shalini Agnihotri said the stranded people had been rescued while there was report that five vehicles were trapped near Rohtang from the Lahaul side. A rescue team from Koksar had been moved to Rohtang to help them.

Since Saturday morning, there has been incessant rain in Kullu-Manali and Mandi region, while in Lahaul-Spiti, there are reports of heavy snowfall, which has hampered the normal life. The temperature has plummeted drastically and residents are forced to stay indoors.

Farmers are also worried. In Koksar, cabbage and cauliflower are yet to be harvested, while the potato crop is still in the field. Farmers fear that early snowfall will damage the crop. The apple season is yet to be started in Lahaul Spiti and heavy snow may damage apple plants if weather remains like this.

Sanjiv Kumar of Lahaul Spiti said, “Bad weather has crippled normal life. I came to Kullu for some work on Friday and was to return on Sunday. But the sudden snowfall at Rohtang blocked the road for days. Telecommunication services have also been hit. We fear loss to the crop, which is ready for harvesting.”

The Kullu district administration has stopped the traffic movement from Vashishth toward Lahaul until the road is restored by the Border Roads Organisation to normal traffic. While in Lahaul Spiti, there has been no communication with residents or the district administration since Saturday as telecommunication services has been paralysed.

Farmers worried 

• In Koksar, cabbage and cauliflower are yet to be harvested while the potato crop is still in the field
• Farmers fear that early snowfall will damage the crop
• The apple season is yet to be started in the tribalLahaul and Spiti and heavy snow may damage apple plants if rain continues