Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has shut the Srinagar-Zoji La- Leh highway and Manali-Keylong highway for all kinds of traffic after the high land Passes received heavy snowfall ranging from the two feet to three ft since yesterday. But BRO has moved its machineries for snow- clearing on these highways. The snowfall is set to trigger not only a tourism boom in days to come, but it bodes good for the apple industry of the Himalayan region.
The Kullu-Manali stretch of the highway was restored for traffic in the morning today, while the restoration work on the left bank of the Manali-Naggar-Kullu was going and the road will be opened towards the evening, said the PWD engineers.
After the weather clears up today morning, BRO has mobilised its machinery and launched the snow clearing operation from both sides of the Atal Rohtang tunnel. The Snow- clearing work was on to restore the Udaipur-Tandi-Keylong road, said the BRO engineers.
Divisional Commissioner union territory of Ladakh today issued the order today closing the Leh-Zoji-La- Srinagar Highway for all kinds of traffic stating that the road has become unworthy of traffic due to snowfall till further order.
On the other hand, deputy commissioner Lahaul-Spiti has also closed the highway for all kinds to traffic due to the heavy snowfall in Dhundi on the south portal and the Lahaul valley on the north portal of the Atal Tunnel, till further order.
The administration has advised the tourists and local commuters to travel slowly on the snowy roads, which are opened for traffic - Kullu-Manali, Shimla-Narkanda, Kufri-Fagu-Kharapathar and Deha-Khirki-Chharki-Chopal roads.
Those tavelling on long snow stretches should chain their wheels to avoid skidding that otherwise could be dangerous in the mountain region, said Suresh Chauhan, a former DSP in HP Police.
