Heavy Snowfall : Rohtang Pass closed to traffic; govt asks BRO to restore vehicular movement as soon as possible

Stranded in the cold deserts of Lahaul-Spiti district after early snowfall and closure of the Rohtang Pass (13,050 feet) more than 100 people, including tourists, officials of private companies and government servants, were evacuated after a two-day operation.

The government deployed three helicopters, including a 26-seater Mesco chopper, to airlift the stranded people to Manali. A private helicopter, which was sent by a company to airlift its personnel working on a hydel project site, was also asked to help in the rescue operation.

“Priority was given to the elderly, women and the sick,” said General R K Doon of the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF), a government agency maintaining the Manali-Leh highway that passes through Rohtang Pass.

Among them were a few medical emergency cases too.

“The operation has been completed successfully. But local MLA Ram Markandy has requested us to make a few more sorties to check if anybody is left out and airlift those stuck in Manali to Keylong,” said Ajay Bhandari, Secretary, General Administration.

Initially, the government had deployed its official four-seater helicopter, which conducted over a half a dozen trips between Keylong and Manali, but later realised the need to press into service a bigger aircraft and summoned Mesco.

“The government has already entered into a separate contract with the Mesco to carry out helicopter services in the snow-covered tribal belt, including Pangi and Lahaul-Spiti, during winters,” said Bhandari.

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