BRO starts clearing snow on Manali-Leh National Highway

Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 5

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) today started snow clearance operation on the Manali-Leh highway via the Atal tunnel to restore traffic movement between Manali and Keylong.

In the last two days heavy snowfall was reported at the Atal tunnel and its nearby areas that blocked the traffic movement between Manali and Keylong on the Manali-Leh highway.

The Border Roads Organisation has engaged its workforce and machinery to clear the road from Manali to Solang valley.

According to BRO officials, there is considerable snow deposited on the ground in the region. The entire area is avalanche prone from Solang valley in Kullu up to Tandi in Lahaul-Spiti.

Due to the ongoing snow festival in Lahaul valley this year, the BRO is struggling to keep the Manali-Atal tunnel-Keylong road open for the access of tourists to Lahaul valley.

The road clearance work is under progress.

Apart from this, the Public Works Department in Mandi and Kullu has engaged their machinery and workforce to clear the roads for traffic movement.

The most affected areas of Kullu district are Ani, Banjar and Manali subdivisions where many roads are still blocked for traffic movement.

According to the Public Works Department authorities, 45 roads of Nirmand, 20 roads of Banjar and 11 roads of Manali are blocked for traffic where snow clearance operation is going on.

Apart from this, 80 electric transformers of the HP State Electricity Board are dysfunctional in Kullu district because of heavy snowfall in the region. In Mandi district, 33 roads have been restored for traffic today, while restoration work was under progress on the remaining 51 roads in the district. The most affected areas are Seraj and Karsog valleys in Mandi.

Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, Rugved Thakur said the restoration work of road, water supply and power supply was under progress in affected areas of the district.

Snow fest on, struggle for BRO

Due to the ongoing snow festival in Lahaul valley this year, the BRO is struggling to keep the Manali-Atal tunnel-Keylong road open for the access of tourists to Lahaul valley.