SHIMLA, June 29:
A massive landslide on the Manali-Leh NH-3 left hundreds of tourists and local vehicles stranded since early morning today, said the senior official of district administration.
District spokesman of Kullu, Sher Singh said a 250 meter portion of Manali-Leh NH-3 cave in at Chumbaknalah near Madhi on Thursday night blocking the traffic between Manali and Rohatang Pass.
“Due to a massive landslide a huge part of hill and muck came down on the road after monsoon rains near Madhi last mid night,” he said. Mr Singh said that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) look after this road, pressed heavy machinery on the both sides to open, however, he added that it would take long time to clear boulders and muck.
“During last 24 hrs State recorded heavy monsoon rain triggering landslide in the slope area of the high way,”he said. This is only land road which link Lahaul- Spiti district with rest of world.
This high way is used by Indian armed forces to supply food, Fuels and ferrying of Jawans to Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Ladakh front of India on Indo-Sino border along western Tibet.
“Manali -Leh NH remains off for vehicular traffic during five months in the winter and was opened for traffic by BRO after cleaning snow in last week of May,” he added. (UNI)