Fresh snowfall at Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti on Thursday Photo Jai Kumar

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, March 15

The inclement weather hampered the snow-clearing operation on the Manali-Leh highway by the Border Roads Organisation today. The Rohtang Pass has been closed since December for the traffic movement because of heavy snowfall.The weather had been cloudy since morning and later it started raining and snowing in the area, which forced the BRO to pull back its workforce because the area is prone to snow avalanches.The BRO had started snow-clearing operation on March 13. It had engaged five teams comprising 22 persons in a team from the Koksar and Gulaba side to execute the task.Talking to The Tribune, BRO Commander Colonel AK Awasthi said “Since morning, the weather had been inclement and it started snowing heavily, forcing us to pull back our workforce in view of safety.”He said, “The area is prone to avalanches and during rain, the probability of avalanche is higher. We have moved a few kilometres ahead of the Beas Nullah toward Rohtang, where snow is up to 20 feet high.”“The opening of Rohtang will depend on the weather conditions because last year, also we had the same experience which delayed the snow-clearing operation. The BRO is focusing on connecting Rohtang with Lahaul as soon as possible for the benefit of the people of the tribal district,” he said.Meanwhile, Lahaul-Spiti also received a mild snowfall, which plummeted the temperature drastically. The traffic was hampered in the district because of the fresh snowfall.