Light at end of tunnel for Lahaul residents

Mandi, September 18

The Eco Tourism Society, Lahual and Spiti, and the Lahaul Utsav Samiti yesterday organised an event to honour those who have contributed to the completion of the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang. Among those felicitated were officials of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and local residents. Once inaugurated, the tunnel will provide all-year connectivity between Manali and Lahaul.

Before the construction of the tunnel, there was only one route to Lahaul and Spiti via Rohtang Pass. The 13,050-feet high pass receives heavy snow during the winter, cutting off the Lahaul valley from the rest of the state for six months every year. During this period, residents of the valley are dependent on a flight service provided by the state government.

Residents are waiting for the inauguration of the tunnel by the Prime Minister. They are hopeful that the tunnel will open new avenues of livelihood for them.

The Lahaul and Spiti District Congress Committee is also planning an event, in which all those who have contributed the project will be honoured.

Rigzin Samphel Heyreppa, president of the Eco Tourism Society, told The Tribune, “There has been a festive mood in the entire district ever since the BRO declared that the tunnel is ready for inauguration.”— TNS