Shimla, Jan 7,
A rescue operation was successfully conducted on Monday to evacuate 35 travelers who were stranded at the Chanshal Pass in Himachal Pradesh due to heavy snowfall. The travelers, trapped in seven vehicles, were caught in a sudden snowstorm that engulfed the high-altitude pass.
A team of PWD personnel, along with local authorities, braved the challenging conditions to reach the stranded travelers. Snow plows and other equipment were used to clear the snow-covered road and create a safe passage for the vehicles.
The rescue operation lasted for several hours, with all 35 travelers and their vehicles safely brought doen to Larot about 20 km from the pass towards Rohru side.
Noteworthy that Himachal Pradesh experienced a significant weather event on Monday, with a mix of rain, sleet, and snowfall impacting various regions. The snowfall particularly affected road conditions, leading to disruptions in travel and necessitating the rescue operation in the Dodra Kewar region.
Road conditions across the region were impacted, with National Highway 05 (Shimla to Rampur) experiencing slippery conditions and the closure of the Narkanda road. Traffic on this route diverted via Sainj to Shimla via Luhri/Sunni. Other major roads, including National Highway 705, State Highway 205, State Highway 8, and State Highway 13, remain open for all types of vehicles. All roads within Shimla city are also open.
Travelers are advised to avoid traveling during early morning and late night hours due to slippery road conditions.
In case of any natural calamity or incident, contact the District Disaster Management Operation Centre, Shimla, for details at 0177-2800880, 881, 882, 883, or 1077 (Toll-Free).
The snowfall significantly impacted road conditions across the region, with continuous snowfall on NH05 in Narkanda leading to snow accumulation and making the road surface extremely slippery. Shimla city recorded 1 mm of rain, and sleet disrupted traffic on the Shimla Airport road for several hours.
