Manali-Leh highway reopened, 282 people rescued (Lead)
September 4th, 2009 - 7:05 pm ICT by IANSManali, Sep 4 (IANS) The 475-km National Highway-21 that connects Manali in Himachal Pradesh and Leh in Jammu and Kashmir was reopened for light vehicles Friday, an official said. The highway was closed Thursday after snowfall.
“The Manali-Leh highway reopened for light vehicles this (Friday) afternoon after snowfall on various stretches of the highway,” S.K. Doon, Commander of General Reserve Engineering Force’s (GREF) 38 Task Force, told IANS.
He said the heavy vehicles would be allowed to ply on the highway soon.
Rohtang Pass (13,050 feet) and the Baralacha Pass (16,020 ft), located on the Manali-Leh highway, experienced 6-7 inches and one foot snowfall, respectively, Thursday.
Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner C. Paul Rasu said that about 282 passengers, including 60 foreigners, who were stranded near the Baralacha Pass due to the untimely snowfall, have been rescued.
“Likewise the Kunzum Pass has also been cleared for traffic between Kaza to Keylong,” he added.
The Manali-Leh highway plays an important role in the movement of the armed forces to the forward areas in Ladakh.
- Avoid Manali-Leh highway, snowfall likely - Oct 23, 2011
- Manali-Leh highway reopens for traffic - Jun 07, 2010
- Manali-Leh highway partially reopened - Jun 01, 2011
- Manali-Leh highway likely to reopen Saturday - Jun 04, 2010
- Don't travel on Manali-Leh highway after October - Oct 07, 2010
- Luxury bus service between Manali and Leh reopens - Jul 02, 2011
- Time for pulsating action on Himachal highway - Jun 09, 2011
- Snow, rain bring on cold wave in Himachal - Nov 15, 2009
- Early snowfall closes Manali-Leh highway - Sep 04, 2009
- Himachal shivers, Shimla has season's coldest night - Jan 06, 2012
- Permit must for Manali-Leh travel by non-Himachal vehicles - Jun 26, 2011
- Himachal gets relief from heavy rains - Sep 13, 2009
- Mercury dips, Himachal lakes begin to freeze - Nov 12, 2011
- High-altitude Himachal lakes begin to freeze - Oct 27, 2010
- Through mountain of snow, they open road to Lahaul (Feature with image) - Apr 27, 2012
Tags: armed forces, deputy commissioner, doon, foreigners, forward areas, friday afternoon, heavy vehicles, jammu and kashmir, kashmir, kaza, light vehicles, snowfall, spiti, stretches, task force, traffic