For the farmers and residents of the Lahaul-Spiti Valley, there is wonderful news. After 13 days of closure owing to landslides and constant rain, the Manali-Keylong-Leh roadway is now available to compact cars. After much labor and perseverance, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) reopened this crucial route via the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang on Sunday. On August 25, severe landslides nearly sealed off the Lahaul Valley from the outside world by closing the Atal Tunnel to all traffic.
The Atal Tunnel’s shutdown forced travelers to endure the arduous and drawn-out 45-kilometer trek across Rohtang Pass. In addition to being a waste of time and fuel, farmers were having a lot of trouble getting their cash crops—like potatoes, peas, and cabbage—to the mandis. Farmers will no longer suffer financial losses thanks to the tunnel’s opening, which will make it easier for them to transport their produce to Manali and other markets.
Rajiv Kumar, the chief engineer for the Deepak Project of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), promised Lahaul-Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana that the road will be restored shortly, and he kept his word. MLA Anuradha Rana commended the BRO, stating that despite challenging conditions, the organization has provided significant assistance to the public and vegetable vendors.
According to Rajiv Kumar, BRO personnel are working around the clock, and large trucks will soon be able to use the Manali-Leh route again. Nevertheless, landslides have kept the Koksar-Kaza route blocked, despite efforts to reopen it. This difficult effort is being undertaken by hundreds of BRO officers, jawans, and personnel in order to restore normalcy to the valley’s residents’ lives.
