4 foreigners detained in Lahaul, entered via Leh

Dipender Manta 

Tribune News Service

Mandi, May 23

Four foreigners entered Lahaul valley of tribal Lahaul and Spiti district late on Friday from Leh side and were detained by the district administration.

Source told The Tribune that among the tourists are a Mexican, Japanese, US and Switzerland citizen, who arrived at Sarchu border of Himachal Pradesh and UT Ladakh in a taxi from Leh.

From Sarchu, they hired another taxi to reach Lahaul, where they were detained by the district administration in the wake of Covid-19 checking protocol.

Sources said after the intervention of embassies concerned, the tourists will be sent to Delhi on Saturday.

The Border Roads Organisation authorities had restored the Manali-Leh highway for traffic on May 18, which made access to Lahaul valley easy from both Manali and Leh side.

The people of Lahaul valley are apprehensive of Covid-19 outbreak in the region and have already asked the district authorities to ban the entry of outsiders strictly in the district.