Rohtang Pass may be reopened in 2 days

Tribune News Service

Mandi, May 17

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) authorities are hopeful of restoring the Manali-Keylong highway via the Rohtang Pass in the next two days, provided operations are not hampered by the weather. 

Only a five-km stretch of the highway, which has been closed since December due to heavy snowfall, is to be reopened to traffic.

The BRO has engaged its workforce and machinery on the stretch to finish the work before the Lok Sabha elections in the state on May 19. There is still 30-ft snow in some parts of the area.

Earlier, the Kullu administration had fixed May 10 as the deadline to restore the Rohtang Pass. However, snow-clearing operation on the highway could not be carried out due to bad weather.

Commander, BRO, Col Uma Shankar said bad weather had hampered the pace of snow-clearing operation on the Manali-Leh highway, which had further delayed the restoration of the Manali-Keylong highway. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul-Spiti, Ashwani Kumar Chaudhari said a majority of voters were today transported from Kullu-Manali to Lahaul via the tunnel. Similarly, many residents were allowed to cross the pass on foot as only 5-km stretch was left to be restored.