Snowfall ahead, BRO stops operations on Rohtang Pass
November 15th, 2010 - 4:03 pm ICT by IANSManali, Nov 15 (IANS) Anticipating heavy snowfall, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Monday stopped operations on the Rohtang Pass till the onset of summer. The road connects this Himachal Pradesh town to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.
“From today (Monday) onwards, we will not be in a position to carry out any evacuation operation or snow clearing work on the entire 222-km Manali-Sarchu National Highway-21 via Rohtang Pass for the next few months due to possible snowfall,” a BRO official told IANS.
BRO had earlier decided not to operate the highway from Oct 31. But on the request of the state government, it had extended the deadline by two weeks.
BRO starts withdrawing its men and machinery deployed at various locations along the highway with the onset of snowfall.
The pass, located at an altitude of 13,050 ft, experienced heavy snow Oct 22 that was cleared by the BRO.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner B.M. Nanta told IANS: “The BRO will not reopen Rohtang Pass and other areas on the highway in case of heavy snowfall. Motorists can travel, but at their own risk.”
The weather at Rohtang Pass, which is the gateway to the Lahaul Valley, is harsh. A sudden drop in the temperature, even in summer, can trigger winter-like conditions.
- Snow clearing work begins on Manali-Leh highway - Mar 01, 2011
- Rohtang Pass to be operational till Nov 15 - Nov 01, 2010
- Avoid Manali-Leh highway, snowfall likely - Oct 23, 2011
- Through mountain of snow, they open road to Lahaul (Feature with image) - Apr 27, 2012
- Himachal's bountiful snow raises hopes from hydropower - Mar 03, 2011
- Time for pulsating action on Himachal highway - Jun 09, 2011
- Eight killed as strong winds lash snow-bound Rohtang Pass (Lead) - Nov 20, 2009
- Stuck since December, they await Himalayan road's reopening - May 24, 2011
- Search underway for bodies buried in snow in Himachal - Nov 21, 2009
- Don't travel on Manali-Leh highway after October - Oct 07, 2010
- Nine bodies recovered from snow-bound Rohtang Pass (Lead) - Nov 21, 2009
- Rohtang Pass reopens after five months - May 25, 2011
- Over 150 stranded in Himachal hills - Jun 10, 2010
- Himachal hills may experience more snow - Nov 22, 2010
- Caution: Men at work, Himachal highway snowed under (Lead) (With Images) - Apr 26, 2011
Tags: altitude, border roads, deputy commissioner, heavy snow, heavy snowfall, himachal pradesh, jammu and kashmir, kashmir, lahaul valley, motorists, nanta, oct 31, risk, rohtang pass, snow clearing, state government, weather