60 passengers stuck due to avalanches rescued

Mandi, January 19

The police and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) rescued 60 passengers in the Lahaul valley in India last night. They were stuck on the Manali-Keylong highway due to avalanches at the Ropsang Nullah and Mooling bridge.

According to SP Manav Verma, those stranded were 35 men, 19 women and six children. The SP said, “The first avalanche occurred just 27 km away from Keylong and the second avalanche at Mooling, just 12 km away from the town. Two more avalanches happened at Mooling, and five vehicles, carrying 60 passengers, were stuck due to the blockade of the road on both sides.”

Two rescue teams were constituted comprising the police and BRO personnel. “Acting Keylong SHO Arjun Singh and his team escorted five vehicles safely to Keylong. The District Disaster Management Authority made arrangements for their overnight stay at New Circuit House,” said the SP.

Another snow avalanche was reported at Tindi under Udaipur subdivision, which blocked the traffic on National Highway-26. The restoration work was under process.

Till the filing of the report, NH-26 could not be restored. The district administration has issued an advisory for the public to avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas in the district in the next few days.