Tag: lahaul cuts off from rest country

With blocking of the Rohtang pass after heavy snowfall, 28 panchayats of Lahaul valley of Himachal has gone cut off from rest of the country on Thursday. Though, depending on weather conditions, Lahaul-Spiti district administration has decided to restore the highway in December, but the final decision rests with unpredictable weather of Rohtang pass. According to sources, there are strong possibilities to keep the Manali-Keylong (Lahaul) highway open despite heavy snowfall till the end of December. But, residents of Lahaul have already made all preparations to get locked inside cage of snow for next six months. The residents would not get vegetables to eat and newspaper to read until the highway is not opened in summer season next year. Helicopter would be the only source of transportation in emergency conditions. Still there are many residents of Lahaul who had not imagined about heavy snowfall in November and they are residing outside the valley. Raju Telangba, resident of Telangbe village of Lahaul, said, “I was in Kullu for some important work and had planned to go back to village on Monday. I’m praying for sunny weather so that I could reach back home after restoration of the highway.” Lahaul-Spiti deputy commissioner SS Guleria said Lahaul valley is ready to be cut off from rest of the country. “We have already made all arrangements to deal with the problems during winters. Essential commodities like medicines, ration, fuel and firewood have already been stocked. Weather of Lahaul, especially Rohtang pass is unpredictable; still we have requested Border Roads Organization (BRO) to clear the highway to Lahaul one more time,” he said. According to sources, BRO has decided to clear snow from Manali-Keylong highway till the end of December in a move to help continue the boring of Rohtang tunnel from north portal in Lahaul.