Manali-Leh Highway is currently closed and won’t be accessible for civilian vehicles for the foreseeable future. Since November 2, the highway has been closed due to heavy snowfall. It is scheduled to reopen in April-May, 2022. Currently, all forms of vehicular movement are prohibited on the Darcha-Padum road. Additionally, the Gramphu-Kaza highway is currently closed.
The police in the region have stated that people are insisting on going on the road (beyond Darcha), even though it is extremely dangerous to do so right now. A decision has been made that unruly tourists who don’t follow protocol will be booked.
Manav Verma, the Superintendent of Police for Lahaul-Spiti, said, “We have observed that tourists staying in hotels and homestays in Lahaul are trying to get to Baralacha and Shinkula, areas that have been closed to tourists. Due to the current situation, the police need to take preventative measures. Therefore, Section 149 of the Cr PC Act requires that civilian vehicular movement remain banned beyond Darcha until the highway is officially reopened again in the coming summer.”
Travellers who come to Lahaul should consider seeing the snow during this time of year, but they must also be aware of the weather and road conditions. There is currently ice on the highway beyond Darcha, and the weather is extremely cold. During such an event, driving or hiring a taxi is not safe.
Guests at hotels, homestays, and other accommodation facilities have also been instructed to inform them of the road closure.
source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com
