BRO restores traffic on Manali-Leh highway

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored the Manali-Leh highway for the movement of 4×4 vehicles between Manali and Keylong last evening. The road was blocked for the past two days because of heavy snowfall near the Atal Tunnel.

Lahaul and Spiti SP Mayank Chaudhary yesterday inspected the road from Keylong to the north portal of the Atal Tunnel to assess the situation for allowing the movement of emergency vehicles between Manali and Keylong.

Lahaul and Spiti DC Rahul Kumar said the BRO had restored the Manali-Leh highway for the movement of 4×4 vehicles from Manali to Darcha. Depending on the weather conditions, the administration would allow traffic movement on the road between 10 am and 3 pm from tomorrow. Only 4×4 vehicles and vehicles having anti-skid chains would be allowed to ply on this road, he added.

The DC said important roads, which had been restored in Lahaul and Spiti, were Manali-Keylong, Keylong-Darcha, Keylong-Udaipur and Udaipur-Tindi.

Kullu ADM Ashwani Kumar told The Tribune that 71 roads were still blocked in Kullu district and 148 electricity transformers were affected. He added that the Public Works Department, the Jal Shakti Department and the HPSEB had engaged their machinery to restore the roads, power supply and water supply at the earliest in the district. In Mandi district, 34 roads were still blocked, while 71 electricity transformers were affected. Apart from this, 33 water supply schemes were disrupted.