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Tribune News Service
Mandi, November 27
Manali and its surrounding areas received the season’s first snowfall last night.
The mild snowfall experienced by the town was later washed away by the rainfall. But surrounding areas of Manali, including Solang Nullah, Kothi, Gulaba, Marhi and the international tourist destination Rohtang Pass, were covered with a thick blanket of snow. Solang Nullah received more than 5 inches, whereas Kothi and Gulaba witnessed nearly 8 inches snow. However, the majestic Rohtang Pass received nearly one-and-a-half feet of snow.
Manali SDM Jyoti Rana said tourists were not allowed to go beyond the Gulaba barrier on the Rohtang road, but they enjoyed snow at the Solang Nullah.
Manali Hoteliers Association vice-president Budhi Prakash said it was a good sign for the coming Christmas and New Year celebrations in the winter season. A good spell of snow would definitely attract tourists to the town, he added.
Higher mountains in Mandi district, including Kamarunag and Shikari Devi, also witnessed the season’s first snowfall. Kamarunag received around 2 inches whereas Shikari Devi experienced nearly 4 inches of snow.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) started the snow-clearance operation on the Manali-Rohtang-Koksar road in the morning.
Col KP Rajendra Kumar, Commander, 38 Border Road Task Force (BRTF), Manali, said two teams were engaged in the operation on both sides of the road. He said the team from the Marhi side had cleared the road up to Rohtang Pass and the other team from the Koksar side was just 6 km away from the Rohtang Pass.
He said they hope to clear the snow and open the road up to Darcha by tomorrow morning.
Rohtang Pass, the high-altitude road link between Manali and Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti, remains closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall during the winter season. The Lahaul valley remained cut off from the rest of the country for several months every year after snow blocks the 479-km Manali-Leh highway.
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