Snow halts Leh road-clearing op

MC Thakur

Manali, March 21

The upper areas of Manali received a fresh snowfall, while rain lashed the lower areas on Wednesday.

The Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul-Spiti and the main attraction for tourists, turned white after snowfall.

Col AK Awasthi, Commander, 38 Border Road Task Force (BRTF), said due to the fresh spell of snow at the Rohtang Pass, the snow-clearing operation on the Manali-Rohtang road had again been disrupted.

He said the snow-clearing team from Manali was clearing the road between Marhi and Rohtang.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has launched a massive snow-clearing operation on the 222-km long Manali-Sarchu section of the road.

The higher reaches in the Manali region, including Beas Kund, Dhundi, Marhi, Gulaba, Chanderkhani Pass and Pir Panjal, experienced a fresh spell of snowfall.

The 14,000-ft-high Bhrigu slopes and the 12,000-ft-high Hamta ski slopes, famous for helicopter-skiing, also received snow.

Tourists were in for a surprise to see Gulaba covered with snow. Hundreds of tourists, who have arrived in Manali from all over the country, rushed to the place to enjoy the sight. They were seen clicking photographs and throwing snowballs at each other.