Road safety rally held during Snow Fest

Our Correspondent

KULLU, FEBRUARY 4

A Gypsy snow-ride rally and archery competition was organized today at Keylong in the series of various events being held during the snow festival in Lahaul-Spiti.

Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Rai flagged off the rally taken out to convey the message of road safety during the Road Safety Month campaign launched by the government. Twelve riders participated in the rally which commenced from Keylong market to the Stingri helipad and returned back to police ground at Keylong.

The DC said that the Gypsy rally was taken out for the purpose of public awareness. He said with the opening of the Atal Tunnel there has been a tremendous increase in the arrival of tourist vehicles in Lahaul. Hence, road safety in snow-bound areas needed more attention. He said that it was necessary to follow the traffic rules, but special precaution and competency was required along with the traffic rules in the snowy conditions.

Rai said that travelling should be avoided during snowfall and commuters should keep snow-chains while traveling on snowy roads. He said that there is a lot of enthusiasm among the tourists to visit Lahaul but they should travel only in favourable weather conditions.

Lahaul and Spiti HRTC Regional Manager Mangal Chand Manepa said that through this rally today, an effort has been made to spread a message to the people that along with the traffic rules it is necessary to keep in mind the ways of driving on ice like lesser use of brakes, driving mostly in power gear and driving at low speed.

The participants of the rally also took part in the archery competition at police ground.