Kullu-Kaza bus resumes

Tribune News Service

Mandi, May 17

The HRTC has resumed its bus service between Kullu and Kaza via Kunzum Pass in Spiti on Thursday. The bus was flagged off by Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda from Kullu.

The bus service was stopped on October 15 because of heavy snowfall at Kunzum, blocking the highway.

The pass receives heavy snow every year during winter, which cuts off the Spiti region from Lahaul and Kullu. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restores the road for traffic in May or June every year, depending on weather condition.

The bus will start from Kullu to Kaza at 3:30 am and from Kaza to Kullu at 5 am. With the start of the bus service, now tourists will get a chance to visit Spiti, which is a famous tourist place for nature lovers and trekkers.

Traffic between Lahaul, Chamba restored

The BRO restored Udaipur-Killar road for traffic between tribal district Lahaul-Spiti and the Pangi region in Chamba district late on Wednesday. The road was blocked three days earlier due to massive landslides at five places. The landslides had damaged the two bridges.

The Tribune highlighted the plight of the people of the Pangi region, who were facing difficulty in shuttling between Lahaul and Pangi. A large numbers of people hailing from the Pangi region are working in Lahaul and Kullu district.

Talking to The Tribune, BRO Commander Colonel AK Awasthi said, “We have developed an alternative route near Karu Nullah for the movement of vehicles. Now maintenance work is going on to restore the bridge for traffic”.

He said that landslides had damaged Karu Nullah bridge badly and it wouldtake some time before it was revamped for traffic purpose.

Rohit Rathor, Resident Commissioner of Pangi in Chamba district, said “After the BRO informed us about the alternative way, we have allowed the traffic on this route. We have also requested the BRO to repair the damaged bridge in time so that normal traffic could be restored.”