Army trucks carrying arms, ammo a risk to Atal tunnel?

A week after the first convoy of the Indian Army passed through the newly-inaugurated Atal Tunnel near Manali in Himachal Pradesh, the state police has reportedly proposed that the state government bar the entry of army and civilian trucks carrying arms, ammunition and explosives through the strategic tunnel.

According to report in the Hindustan Times, the proposal is among the recommendations made by a five-member committee set up by state director general of police Sanjay Kundu to suggest measures for the tunnel's security. 

The Atal Tunnel across the Rohtang Pass that provides all-weather connectivity to the border district of Lahaul-Spiti.

The tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 10,000 Feet from the Mean Sea Level. 

​It has state of the art electromechanical systems, including semi transverse ventilation, SCADA controlled fire fighting, illumination and monitoring systems. The tunnel has ample safety features built into it.

However, the panel, which reportedly studied safety practices followed in tunnels in the Swiss Alps, China and Japan, feels that the movement of vehicles carrying explosives be barred from plying through the 9.02-km tunnel. 

The newspaper report claimed that the committee submitted its proposals to chief secretary Anil Khachi recently.

• Army trucks
• ammo
• arms
• Atal tunnel