Manali-Leh highway shut down, likely to reopen in May next year

Attention road trippers. The Manali-Leh national highway has been officially closed for this year.Reportedly, the Manali-Leh national highway has been officially closed from November 20 onwards, because of the prevailing cold weather conditions and potential hazards linked to driving. The administrators of Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh issued this directive, and informed the closure of key roads such as Gramphu-Kaza, Darcha-Sarchu, and Darcha-Shinku La.

Implemented as a precautionary measure to address the hazards posed by icy roads and prioritize safety of travellers, the road closure is anticipated to remain in place for approximately six months, until around May of the next year. This timeline will allow sufficient time for the natural thawing of snow on the highway.
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Referring to this, an official from the Lahaul administration emphasised that strict action would be taken against those found violating the closure orders and attempting to traverse the route during this period. Despite the closure, officials have clarified that vehicle movement from Manali to Darcha will be permitted, which will also depend on favourable weather conditions. The decision to shut down the Leh-Manali road has been due to reasons like vehicles getting stranded due to the challenging cold weather conditions and reports of icy roads, especially at elevated mountain passes.

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The Ladakh administration's order, effective from November 20 onwards, strictly prohibits vehicular movement from Upshi police check post, Leh, towards Darcha. The administration has urged the local police department to rigorously enforce these orders and advised tourists to refrain from travelling during this period to avoid inconvenience.

Notably, the Manali-Leh route sees numerous rescues each year as travellers often find themselves stranded. Lahaul-Spiti police and the Border Roads Organization (BRO) play a crucial role in these rescue operations. Two instances of snowfall have already been reported in October and November this year, which further prompted the closure of the highway, which is also aimed at prioritising public safety amid challenging weather conditions.