‘Nature’s white trap’ in March, 3 feet of snow accumulated near Atal Tunnel, highway closed after 1500 vehicles got stuck: – ..

News India Live, Digital Desk: Nature has once again shown its fierce form in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh. Rohtang Pass and Atal Tunnel The heavy snowfall that has been going on for the last 48 hours has completely brought life to a halt. The situation is that at the south and north portals of the tunnel, up to 3 feet of snow The layer has settled. Due to this sudden blizzard, 1500 tourist vehicles They got stuck midway and were rescued safely by BRO and local police after an overnight rescue operation. Keeping the security in mind, the administration has closed the Manali-Atal Tunnel Highway. Nehru Kund Is closed indefinitely.

Icy ‘death trap’: zero visibility and heavy traffic jams

The snowfall that started on Friday evening made the roads extremely dangerous within a few hours:

Slippery and Black Ice: The thin layer of snow on the roads turned into ‘black ice’, due to which vehicles started colliding uncontrollably.

Stranded Tourists: Hundreds of tourists returning from Sissu and Lahaul valley were stuck inside and outside the tunnel for about 20 hours. Amidst the severe cold and lack of oxygen, tourists had to spend the night in their vehicles.

Rescue Operation: In collaboration with Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti police Border Roads Organization (BRO) The teams cleared the way by removing snow and took the stranded elderly people and children to safe camps.

Administrative strictness: ‘Barrier’ installed on Nehru Kund

Kullu district administration has taken strict decisions keeping in mind the safety of tourists:

No-entry zone: All vehicles going beyond Manali have been stopped at Nehru Kund and Solang Nala. currently only 4×4 (four by four) Vehicles and local residents are allowed only in case of emergency.

Advisory issued: Police have warned tourists not to go towards high passes for the sake of adventure. The Meteorological Department has warned that the ‘wet spell’ (rain and snowfall) will continue in the hilly areas till March 25. orange alert Has given.

Contact with Lahaul Valley lost

Due to the closure of Atal Tunnel, Lahaul Valley has once again been cut off from the world. close within the valley more than 130 roads are closed and many villages are in darkness due to faulty electricity transformers. BRO machines are continuously engaged in removing snow, but intermittent snowfall is hampering the work.

Guidelines for Tourists (Checklist for Travelers)

If you are planning to visit Manali, keep these things in mind:

Status Check: Before leaving, please check the road status by calling the helpline number of District Disaster Management (DDMA).

Essential Supplies: Always keep warm clothes, extra fuel, water and dry food in your car.

Tire Pressure: When driving on snow, keep tire pressure low and use snow chains if possible.