Manali-Leh highway has been shut down after being hit by heavy snowfall. The tourists were advised against travelling beyond Darcha by Lahaul-Spiti police because of unsafe driving conditions.

As per police, the highway past Darcha, has become extremely slippery. The roads particularly at Shinku-La and Baralacha Pass are dangerous. Also because of extreme conditions, the ice formed on the road has made it extremely dangerous to travel.

Mayank Chaudhary, Lahaul-Spiti superintendent of police, informed that snowfall was reported in Koksar, Baralacha La, Rohtang Pass, Shinkula and Jingjingbar.

Credit: iStockHe further said, “There has been snowfall at Chandertal and the district police have removed its check post from there. Locals and tourists are urged to avoid travel to the high-altitude glacial lake,” he said.

A Lahaul-Spiti district administration official said that they received three light snowfalls in recent days, which resulted in a drop in the temperature. The highway beyond Darcha has become quite risky to travel now. He also said that tourists should not travel on this road without first informing the local administration.

The snowfall has increased cold conditions across the state.

Keylong recorded a minimum of 6 degrees Celsius, followed by Kukumseri 6.7 degrees and Kappa 8.8 degrees Celsius. Shimla, Dalhousie, Manali, Kufri and Narkanda recorded a minimum temperature of 15 degrees, 15.8 degrees, 14.2 degrees, 13.2 degrees and 11.7 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Credit: iStockTwo police posts at Chandratal and Sarchu were also removed by the Lahaul-Spiti police after the recent snowfall but Darcha police post is functioning.

Apparently, at the onset of the winter, most people in the region who run camping and hotel business either leave or are on the verge of leaving. So, there’s no point staying as one spell of heavy snowfall can make people stuck in the region.

On the other hand, the weather department has also predicted light to moderate rainfall at several places and light snowfall at higher reaches of the state.