A shot of the Manali Leh highway taken in June 2022. Photo used for indicative purpose only
Fresh snowfall paralyzes Manali-Leh/Kaza highways
Shimla, Nov 10
In recent weather events, the high reaches of Himachal Pradesh experienced a fresh spell of snowfall, causing significant disruptions in vehicular traffic along the Manali-Leh and Kaza highways. The district administration of Lahaul-Spiti reported that areas such as Koksar in the Spiti Valley received 8.8 cm of fresh snow, while the Rohtang Pass, towering at 13,050 ft, recorded an impressive 40 to 45 cm of snowfall. Additional reports indicated snowfall in Kunzum Pass and other upper reaches, including the vicinity of Keylong and Seven Sisters Hills.
In response to the adverse weather conditions, the district administration issued a press release declaring the closure of the Manali-Leh road (NH-03) due to the recent snowfall between Manali and Sarchu. Consequently, vehicular movement has been prohibited from Darcha to Sarchu and from Koksar to Rohtang Top.
Furthermore, the NH-505 route from Sumdo to Kaza via Gramphu is also impassable for all types of vehicles due to snowfall. On a positive note, the Darcha–Shinkula road and SKTT (Sansari Kilar-Tindi Tandi) road have been successfully restored for all vehicular movement.
It’s worth noting that the police post from Sarchu was removed on September 16, 2023. As a precautionary measure, travelers are urged to exercise caution beyond Darcha.
The general public is advised against unnecessary travel during this time.
In other weather-related updates, Dalhousie, a popular tourist resort, experienced one millimeter of rainfall, while Palampur in the Kangra district reported a trace of rain.
The Indian Meteorological Department has forecasted rain and snowfall at various places in the mid and high reaches, including Kangra, Chamba, Kullu, and Una districts. The rest of the state is experiencing partly cloudy weather, with a noticeable drop in mercury levels. The minimum temperatures reported include Keylong at minus 0.5 degrees, Shimla at 8.5, Kalpa at 2.3, Manali at six, Dalhousie at 6.8, Narkanda at 5, and Kufri at 6.6. Other temperature readings are Mandi at 7.5, Dharmshala at 13, Una at 12, Nahan at 15, Kangra at 12, Chamba at 10, Jubberhati Airport at 11.6, and Bhuntar Airport at 8.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
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