The snowfall in Lahaul and Spiti district on Monday has blocked 13050 feet Rohtang Pass, suspending vehicular traffic to the tribal district for rest of the winters. The Rohtang Pass has experienced about one feet snow on Monday while the district headquarters Keylong received about 6 inches snow.
With the fresh snow at the Pass the vehicular traffic would remain suspended for about five months as the only road connection with the district from Manali would remain blocked for the winters. Snow on the Rohtang Pass was cleared by the Border Road Organization on public demand a few days ago after officially closing the Pass on November 11.
From now on, the only connectivity available for the residents of the district would be charted flights by the state government chopper or emergency passage of vehicles through the Rohtang tunnel, work on which is yet to be completed.
The life during harsh winters in Lahaul and Spiti is full of hardships as the many areas of the district reels under minus temperature falling to minus 20 degree.
A resident of the district Bir Chand has told on the phone, “ The entire region is reeling under severe cold wave and night temperature is as low as minus 15 degree.”
The residents have complained, “Normal life has been affected very badly and internet facility is not working for the last so many days and officials of the Bhartiya Sanchar Nigam Limited have failed to restore the internet facility to the tribal areas.”
The Deputy Commissioner Lahaul and Spiti Dr Ashwani Chudhary said, “The district administration has requested the state government to start chopper service to the tribal areas and flight staff has been stationed at the Bhuntar Airport.”
“The duration of the flights would depend on the basis of booking for the flight ; the Border Road Organization Authorities have also agreed to consider the passage of vehicles through the Rohtang tunnel in case of extreme emergency “ , he added.Attachments area