Manali-Leh NH to be restored by mid-April

Scanty snowfall

— The Lahaul region experienced very low snowfall of 96 cm so far this year which has broken record of past many decades.

— According to Met department 87 cm of snow was recorded in January, 6 cm in February and 3 centimeters of snow so far in March. Last year the district received 280 cm of snow.

— The highest snowfall of 719 cm was witnessed by the valley in 2019 while the lowest snow of 172 cm was recorded in 2016 during this tenure.

Abhinav Vashisht

KULLU, MARCH 14

The strategically important 427-km long Manali-Leh highway will be thrown open about a month earlier this year due to scanty snowfall this winter.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had started the restoration work on several fronts to restore the Manali-Leh route and has engaged teams at different locations. The BRO was hopeful of reopening the road by mid-April. The road was cleared of snow for vehicular movement on May 18 last year.

The road is used to supply essential material to the Army in the border areas of Ladakh, close to China border. Many enthusiasts also venture on this adventurous route.

The BRO has focused its full attention on restoring the Baralacha Pass (16,040 feet), Lachung La Pass (16,800 feet) and Tanglang La Pass (17,480 feet). The BRO will not be required to restore the 13,058 feet high Rohtang Pass because of the Atal Tunnel. The BRO had already cleared about 60 per cent of the highway.

The 38 Border Road Task Force (BRTF) Commander Colonel Uma Shankar said that the snow clearance operations were underway and if the weather remains favourable than the Manali-Leh highway will be restored in a record time by mid-April or even earlier.

The Lahaul region experienced very low snowfall of 96 cm so far this year which has broken record of past many decades. According to Met department 87 cm of snow was recorded in January, 6 cm in February and 3 centimeters of snow so far in March. Last year the district received 280 cm of snow. The highest snowfall of 719 cm was witnessed by the valley in 2019 while the lowest snow of 172 cm was recorded in 2016 during this tenure.

The valley has also recorded an unusual rise in temperature due to scanty snowfall. The snow had disappeared in about 70 per cent of the region in March itself. The glaciers have not received armour this time due to less snowfall due to which the possibility of drought has increased.

There are many glaciers in the Lahaul-Spiti region which feed the Sutlej and Chenab rivers. Less snowfall will affect these major rivers and have an impact on the speed of melting of glaciers as well. Phunchog, Mandas, Jogchand and Dorje, all elderlies, said that the region had experienced lowest snowfall in the past many decades.