250 tourist vehicles sent back from Atal Tunnel after snow

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 2

The fresh snowfall hampered traffic movement to Lahaul from Manali today. A large number of tourists thronged Atal Tunnel to enjoy the snowfall. But in view of public safety, the police sent back around 250 vehicles.

Lahaul and Spiti SP Manav Verma said due to the fresh snowfall near Atal Tunnel, the road has become slippery. As a result, traffic movement had been restricted beyond the Solang valley. He said only special kind of vehicles (4x4 vehicles) would be allowed to cross the tunnel with prior permission in emergency cases.

Snowfall was reported at Keylong, Kaza and a few other places, plummeting the temperature. In high-altitude areas of Kullu district, snowfall was reported from near the Hamta Pass, Chanderkhani and the Solang valley, which elated the tourists as well hoteliers.

Some tourist vehicles were stranded between Solang and the south portal of Atal Tunnel this evening. According to Kullu SP Gaurav Singh, some tourists crossed Atal Tunnel early in the morning but due to snowfall they could not find any resting place at Lahaul in the evening. “So, the Lahaul police in coordination with the Kullu police sent all these vehicles through the tunnel towards Manali from the Lahaul side in the evening,” he added. The SP said the police were on the job to rescue all tourists from the area, as the road between Manali and the south portal of Atal Tunnel had been cleared. These vehicles were coming to Manali.

Pankaj Rai, DC, Lahaul and Spiti, said no tourist vehicle was stranded towards the Lahaul side beyond the north portal of the Atal Tunnel.