Fresh snowfall blocks Rohtang Pass, tourists stranded

A fresh spell of snowfall in high altitude tribal and other areas of Himachal today blocked the Marhi-Rohtang road as several tourists and vehicles were stranded in the region.
Intensified cold wave conditions in the adjoining valley areas as the higher hills gave way for fresh snowfall, which was accompanied by high velocity icy winds, MeT officials said.
Some tourists, who had gone to Rohtang Pass, were stranded between Marhi and Rohtang but rescue teams were dispatched immediately and they were brought to Manali, Kullu Deputy Commissioner, Rakesh Kanwar said.
Some vehicles were stranded in snow on either side of the Rohtang Pass and efforts are being made to clear the Pass at the earliest, Kanwar said.

The Manali-Rohtang-Keylong highway is maintained by Border Roads Organisation and the Pass had been officially closed for vehicular traffic, but due to delay in snowfall, the tourists were venturingto visit the Pass to enjoy the snow.
Meanwhile, the sky remained overcast in higher hills and strong winds swept the region, causing further fall in maximum day temperatures, MeT officials said.

Shimla and its adjoining areas, and Manali and its suburbs received showers, forcing people to rush indoors.
The day temperatures plummeted in high altitude tribal areas and hovered around freezing point, while minimum temperatures stayedat 2.1 degree, 2.4 degree and 5.0 degree at Keylong, Kalpa and Manali.

The Shivalik foothills recorded minimum temperature at 7.4 degree, followed by Shimla and Solan 8.0 degree, Bhuntar 9.0 degree, Sundernagar 10.3 degree and Dharamsala and Nahan 14.0 degree Celsius.
The local MeT office has predicted rains or snowfall at mid and higher hills at isolated places tomorrow and again from November 7 to 10.