Snow-clearing operation begins to restore traffic on Manali-Leh road

Mandi, February 2

The Border Roads Organisation today started snow-clearing operation on the Manali-Leh highway to restore traffic movement on the Manali-Keylong-Darcha route. This highway was blocked to traffic after heavy snowfall in the region.

The BRO has restored this highway from Keylong up to Darcha in Lahaul and Spiti for the movement of 4×4 vehicles. Snow-clearing operation is underway to restore this highway from Keylong to the north portal of Atal tunnel. Similarly, the BRO team is removing snow on this highway beyond Manali towards the southern portal of Atal tunnel to restore road connectivity between Manali and Keylong.

Power supply has been erratic in Keylong and nearby areas since yesterday. The Public Works Department has engaged its workforce and machinery to restore village link roads in Lahaul valley, which were blocked to traffic after heavy snowfall.

In Lahaul and Spiti, 141 roads are blocked, while 47 electricity transformers have suffered damage. This has affected transportation service badly in the entire district and power supply in some parts of the district.

In Kullu district, the highway has been restored up to Manali from the Kullu side for traffic movement. Yesterday, traffic to Manali was disrupted beyond Kalath from Kullu side due to snowfall in Manali region. The Aut-Luhri highway is still blocked because of heavy snowfall at Jalori Pass in Banjar subdivision of Kullu district. As many as 67 roads are blocked in Kullu in different parts of the district. Apart from this, 356 electricity transformers were disrupted.

The Public Works Department and the HP State Electricity Board have engaged their workforces to restore roads for traffic movement in rural areas of the district and power supply in remote villages. Power supply has been restored in Manali town.

Hem Raj Sharma, a hotelier of Manali town, said that queries for room bookings for hotels of Manali have increased after snow as tourists staying here in the town were enjoying their stay.

In Mandi district 44 roads were still blocked to traffic, while 354 electricity transformers were disrupted. The workforce of the PWD and the HP State Electricity Board was working hard to restore these blocked roads for traffic movement and power supply in the district at the earliest.