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Avalanche Blocks Atal Tunnel Highway, BRO Launches Clearance Ops

An avalanche struck near the north portal of the Atal Tunnel in Lahaul, blocking the crucial NH-03 highway and prompting immediate clearance efforts by the Border Roads Organisation. This incident follows severe winter conditions in Kedarnath, where heavy snowfall blanketed the temple and temperatures plummeted to minus 16 degrees Celsius. Security forces, including the ITBP and local police, have been conducting continuous patrols in the area despite the extreme cold. Authorities have issued alerts for potential snowfall and avalanches in Uttarakhand's high-altitude regions.

Key Points: Avalanche Hits Atal Tunnel, Blocks NH-03 in Lahaul

  • Avalanche near Atal Tunnel North Portal
  • NH-03 blocked in Lahaul-Spiti
  • BRO launches clearance operations
  • Kedarnath sees heavy snowfall and -16°C
  • ITBP and police patrol temple despite harsh weather
2 min read

Avalanche hits near Atal Tunnel north portal; NH-03 blocked in Lahaul

An avalanche near the Atal Tunnel's north portal blocks NH-03. BRO initiates clearance. Earlier, heavy snow blankets Kedarnath amid extreme cold.

"The restoration and clearance operations were immediately initiated by road maintenance teams. - Border Roads Organisation"

Lahaul Spiti, February 3

An avalanche struck near the Snow Gallery at the North Portal of the Atal Tunnel in the Lahaul Sub-Division on Tuesday, leading to the blockage of National Highway-03.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) stated that the avalanche occurred in the vicinity of the Atal Tunnel's North Portal, disrupting vehicular movement on the key highway that connects Lahaul-Spiti with other parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Following the avalanche, NH-03 was blocked. The restoration and clearance operations were immediately initiated by road maintenance teams.

Further Details are awaited.

Earlier, on January 28, the holy town of Kedarnath in Uttarakhand experienced extreme winter conditions, with heavy snowfall and severe cold weather impacting the region.

The Rudraprayag district administration told ANI that continuous snowfall in the higher Himalayan regions had completely blanketed the Kedarnath shrine, the abode of Baba Kedar. Officials said that approximately 3 to 4 feet of snow accumulated at the temple premises, while temperatures plunged to as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius.

Despite the harsh weather conditions, personnel from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Rudraprayag Police carried out continuous patrols in and around the temple premises and other sensitive locations to ensure safety and security.

Even in extreme cold and icy winds, the forces conducted continuous patrols within and around the temple premises and other sensitive areas.

Hence, in view of the possibility of snowfall and avalanches in the high-altitude regions of Uttarakhand, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) issues an alert to all districts.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
My heart goes out to the people stranded and the brave ITBP/BRO personnel. Minus 16 degrees is unimaginable. We often forget the sacrifices made by our forces and border road workers in these extreme terrains. Jai Hind.
A
Aman W
While the alert from USDMA is good, I feel we are always reactive. Can we invest more in predictive technology for avalanches? Countries with similar terrain use it. Prevention is better than blocking highways and risking lives.
S
Sarah B
The dedication is incredible. Patrolling in -16°C around Kedarnath to keep pilgrims safe... these stories don't get enough coverage. True heroes.
V
Vikram M
This is a stark reminder of climate change. Extreme weather events in the Himalayas are becoming more frequent. We need to think about long-term sustainability for these border regions and the people living there.
K
Kriti O
Hope all travellers are safe. NH-03 is crucial. BRO does amazing work, but maybe the tunnel design near the north portal needs a review for avalanche deflection? Just a thought from an engineering student.

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