Over 300 Tourists Rescued From Atal Tunnel After Heavy Snowfall Left Them Stranded
More than 300 tourists have been rescued by the Himachal Pradesh police who were stranded near the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang after fresh snowfall. The people were stuck between South Portal of Atal Tunnel and Solang Nalla in Manali.
More than 300 tourists who were stranded near the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang after fresh snowfall, have been rescued by the Himachal Pradesh police. People were stuck between the South Portal of Atal Tunnel and Solang Nalla in Manali.
ANI
Along with the Kullu Police, the Lahaul-Spiti Police sent vehicles through the tunnel in the evening. Around 70 vehicles, including a 48-seater bus, a 24-seater police bus and one police quick reaction team (QRT), were deployed for their rescue operation.
Also read: PM Modi Inaugurates Atal Tunnel In Rohtang, Images Of Longest High-Altitude Road Tunnel In The World Are Breathtaking!
ANI
Tourists who were rescued from the tunnel were taken to safer places in Manali. According to the forecast by the Metereological Department, snowfall around the tunnel is expected in the next few days.
Rescue teams reached Dhundhi around 8pm. Over twenty 4X4 rescue vehicles with rescue teams sent with orders to provide facilities for stranded people. Taxis & one 48 seater bus also moved to Kulang so that evacuated persons could be shifted. Rescue is still underway: SDM Manali https://t.co/u2MKN9eF3Z
¡ª ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2021
Atal Tunnel is the world¡¯s longest tunnel and has an altitude of 10,040 feet. It is also a tourist destination since it was inaugurated to the public in October 2020.
The tunnel helps in saving four to five hours of travel time, and 46 kilometres distance between Manali, and Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh. On October 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Atal Tunnel. At 9.02 km, it's the longest highway tunnel in the world and connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti Valley in Rohtang.
The tunnel is one of the two routes into Ladakh; it will also become the route used to resupplying the military garrison there. The other route into Ladakh is through the Zojila Pass which connects the Kashmir Valley with Drass.
