Kullu: Manali Leh national highway, which is 428 km long, has been closed in the wake of the snowfall and Lahaul administration has stopped the movement of vehicles.
The Manali Leh Highway closes every year on October 15. But this time, to facilitate the vehicular movement of military convoys, the Border Road Organization (BRO) decided to keep it operational for a longer time.
The snow was cleared four times from October to November to allow smooth movement of vehicles but heavy snowfall from November 23 to 26 halted the vehicular traffic.
BRO officials said that Manali-Keylong-Darcha road will be kept open but Darcha-Leh Highway will remain close. However, the movement will be allowed depending upon the weather conditions.
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"Darcha and Sarchu on the Manali-Leh Highway experience 30 to 50 feet thick snow and the temperature usually goes down to -20 degree Celsius. There is less habitat around and no mobile network up to 200 km from Patseau to Upshi," they said.
The administration has issued an alert and requested residents to avoid going in landslide-prone areas and near rivers and rivulets. It has also advised people, tourists and transporters not to go towards Sarchu in the wake of the heavy snowfall.
Leh Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar said that the Leh-Manali highway is closed due to bad weather conditions, snowfall, extreme cold and slippery road. The road, which was closed on 26 November due to snowfall, will remain closed for vehicular movement till further orders.
