NH3 & NH505 closed for winter season: Administration
Shimla, Nov 19
The Lahaul-Spiti district administration has decided to withdraw the police post from NH-3 and NH 505 roads starting today due to the highways being unsuitable and unsafe for vehicular traffic.
According to the administration, the NH-03 (Manali – Sarchu) road was open for all types of vehicular movement from Darcha to Sarchu on November 18. Vehicles were allowed on the Darcha to Sarchu Leh road from 8:00 am to 11:00 am and from Leh to Sarchu via Darcha road from 11:00 am to 02:00 pm. However, today no vehicles were allowed to pass.
The Lahaul-Spiti district police stated that the NH-505 (Sumdo Kaza- Gramphu) road was open for all types of vehicular movement on Saturday, allowing vehicles to cross Koksar to Losar Kaza road from 09:00 am to 12:30 pm and from Kaza Losar to Koksar from 10:00 am to 02:00 pm. However, today no vehicles were allowed to pass even on the highway.
The decision to close the highway was made due to the mounting snowfall on the Kunzum pass and freezing temperatures, making it unfeasible to keep the highways open for the rest of the winter season.
The district administration will keep the strategic highways closed for the winter season. The police check post at Sarchu was removed on November 16, and the check post at Darcha was also closed today. Passengers are already advised to travel carefully beyond Darcha.
According to the district administration, Darcha Shinkula and SKTT (Sansaar – Kilaar-Tindi Tandi) are open. SKTT is restored to all types of vehicular movement up to Kahoo Nala.
The administration requests the general public not to travel unnecessarily. With the construction and commissioning of the Rohtang tunnel in 2021, the district headquarters Keylong remains open from Manali year around, barring heavy snowfall.
Noteworthy that the Manali-Leh strategic road remains closed for the nearly five months every year during winter season. Now this road will be restored in June 2024.
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