Over 300 tourists stranded near Atal Tunnel after snowfall rescued by Himachal Pradesh Police
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.
FollowThe Himachal Pradesh Police has rescued over 300 tourists stranded near the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang after fresh snowfall, an official said on Sunday.
The rescue operation of more than 500 tourists took place, who were stranded at the road between South Portal of Atal Tunnel and Solang Nalla in Manali of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh following heavy rainfall.
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. The DSP and the SHO of Manali were involved in the rescue operation which was later joined by the border roads organisation (BRO), the Kullu SP said.
The rescue operation started on Saturday evening and continued after midnight, he added.
All stranded tourists were rescued from Dhundhi and South Portal of the tunnel till 12.33 am and were taken to safer places in Manali. The SP further stated that the personnel team led by the Manali SHO was still checking enroute for any stranded tourist.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued a ''yellow'' weather warning for heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh.
The world's longest tunnel at an altitude of 10,040 feet, Atal Tunnel has become a tourist destination since it was thrown open to the public in October.
The 9.02-km underpass beneath 13,058-feet-high Rohtang Pass connects Lahaul of Lahaul-Spiti district and Manali of Kullu district in the state. Almost every tourist who comes to Manali visits the tunnel, considered as marvellous piece of engineering.
(With inputs from agencies) Â
