Motorists asked to stay off Manali-Leh road after Nov 10

Avoid travelling through the rugged Himalayan ranges that connect this Himachal Pradesh town with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir after Nov 10 as snowfall is likely, an official said Wednesday.

"An advisory has been issued to the motorists to avoid travelling on the Manali-Leh national highway after Nov 10 as chances of snow are high," an official of the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF), based here, told IANS.

GREF, a wing of the Border Roads Organisation, maintains the 475-km Manali-Leh National Highway-21 that passes through Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft), Baralacha Pass (16,020 ft), Lachlungla Pass (16,620 ft) and Tanglangla Pass (17,480 ft).

He said if any vehicle got stranded due to untimely snowfall, the GREF would not be able to carry out snow-clearing operation after the deadline.

The weather in the region through which the highway passes is harsh. A sudden drop in the temperature, even in summer, can trigger winter-like conditions. In winters the situation becomes worse.