Driving on ice, people put life at stake

Manali: Though Manali-Keylong highway was reopened for local vehicles in case of emergency, the snow and ice covering the surface of the dangerous road have people putting lives at stake.

The high velocity winds bring snow on road every day. The steep road with dozens of hairpin bends and deep valley at one side has become extremely slippery. With ice reducing the traction between road and tyres, vehicles are often unable to move at certain spots. To help vehicles get traction on ice, members of rescue posts are sprinkling mud on icy surface.

“Some stretches have become very slippery and vehicles are not able to move on steep road. Removing all ice and snow from road surface is not possible by machines. So, to help needy people reach their destination, we dig out mud and spread it on the slippery surface,” said rescue post in charge at Koksar Pawan Thakur.

On Saturday, a truck carrying essential supplies started slipping on the road near Rahni nullah and all efforts to help it failed till evening. As one vehicle starts to slip, it blocks the road for all the traffic. Vehicles moving downwards are more difficult to control as they tend to slip in whatever direction gravity pulls them in. While moving upward to the pass, vehicles, which do not have all-wheel drive mechanism, are pushed by other people. All are aware that if a vehicle once goes out of control, it will roll down into deep gorge.

Contrary to the prediction that a few dozen people and vehicle are stuck on either side of Rohtang and want to go back to Lahaul or Kullu, a large number of vehicles carrying hundreds of people have made a beeline on Manali-Keylong highway. As tribals know Border Roads Organization (BRO) has cleared snow from the road for the last time in season, they are taking full advantage of the opportunity. The BRO is trying to widen the road by clearing snow from Koksar side too. Kullu DC Yunus has asked the people of Lahaul to contact Manali SDM if they face any kind of problem in going back home.

Manali SDM Raman Gharsangi too added that the road was slippery and winds were strong, so vehicles towards Rohtang wrre being allowed only after 8am. “I’ve urged the drivers to take extra precaution to avoid accident. The road shall remain open as long as the weather allows,” he added.


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