A BRO machine clears debris from Manali-Leh highway

MANALI: Most major roads in Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts, battered by flood waters and heavy rain, continued to be blocked on Monday.

Traffic could not move on the Kaza-Shimla, Kaza-Manali, Manali-Leh, Manali-Spiti, Gramphu-Sumdo, Manali-Kullu and Mandi-Chandigarh roads.

Agriculture minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda, who belongs to Lahaul valley, was in Spiti valley to monitor relief oeprations. "All major roads are blocked. Restoration works are one. Over 300 tourists are stranded between Gramphu and Kaza. Rescue operations to reach them are being carried out on priority. Hundreds of more tourists are stranded at many places in the district," he said.

According to him, the district suffered damages worth crores of rupees and snowfall could have damaged crops too. He said the road from Gramphu to Sumdo had been handed over to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), but it did not have enough machinery. "We have deployed 11 private JCBs to open roads there. Pea is the main cash crop here which is ready to harvest. A large number of farmers met me and requested to open the road on priority. Otherwise, their crops will rot before reaching grain markets," he added.

The commander of 38 Border Road Task Force, Col Uma Shankar, said it would take two-three days to restore traffic on the Manali-Kaza road. "It has been completely washed away at places. The Manali-Leh road too has suffered damages between Koksar and Sarchu. We are making all efforts to open the road by Monday evening," he said.

It will take more days for Kullu district to return to normalcy, as floods and landslides have badly damaged roads and bridges. Many villages have been completely disconnected. The Manali-Kullu highway is still blocked as the swollen Beas washed away a huge chunk of the road at Aluground near Manali. Providing some relief to public and tourists, the Kullu-Mandi highway was opened to one-way traffic on Monday evening. The Mandi-Chandigarh stretch of the highway was still blocked, but bypass roads were open.

Kullu deputy commissioner Richa Verma said of the 89 blocked roads, 51 roads had been opened on Monday. "Most water schemes have been resumed and remaining will start functioning by Tuesday evening. Blocked roads and power supply would be restored soon. All officials have been directed to work overtime, if required," Verma said.

