20 stuck near Baralacha after fresh snowfall

Our Correspondent

KULLU, APRIL 21

Around 20 commuters, mostly labourers, were stuck between Keling Serai and Baralacha Pass as the Lahaul valley experienced fresh snowfall yesterday evening. Lahaul and Spiti DC Pankaj Rai said that some trucks, a pick-up van and around four small cars having mostly labourers were stuck as two vehicles broke down blocking the road from both sides.

He said that 147 persons were rescued and brought back to Darcha, while around 20 persons were still stuck in two Tempo Travellers and four small vehicles amid the snow. He added that police tried to stop them as well but they were adamant not to return back and tried to cross the Pass and got stuck. Rescue teams were sent from Keling Serai and Zingzingbar today but the teams could not reach the stranded vehicles due to tough conditions and poor visibility because of blizzards.

Lahaul and Spiti SP Manav Verma said the Border Roads Organization (BRO) and police personnel carried out the rescue operations which continued till wee hours today amid heavy snowfall. He said that a BRO officer rescued 17 persons at 3 am while 130 persons had been rescued earlier.

The SP added that even his vehicle was stuck and he came on foot to Darcha. He said that rescue operations were underway and today all the stranded persons will be rescued.

After the relentless efforts of the BRO and police, about 100 trucks carrying goods and vegetables and other vehicles ferrying mostly labourers, which were stuck at Darcha since April 4 due to snowfall, were sent from Darcha to Sarchu by crossing the Baralacha Pass (16,043 feet) on the Manali-Leh highway yesterday. However some vehicles were stuck as snowfall started in the evening.

Although the BRO had restored the Baralacha Pass on April 16 and the smaller vehicles had crossed through but the trucks and some other vehicles could not cross due to poor road conditions. They could not proceed beyond Darcha due to heavy snowfall again on April 17.

The BRO had restored the 425-km Manali-Leh highway for vehicular traffic in a record time on March 28 this year but it was risky to commute, especially in view of the adverse weather conditions.

Meanwhile, mercury in the entire region dipped as the higher reaches of Lahaul and Kullu received snowfall and lower reaches were being lashed by rains since yesterday evening.