The strategic Manali-Leh highway was blocked again on Thursday after a flooded rivulet washed away a stretch of over 200 meter highway in the morning. The Kullu administration has sounded an alert since there is an increased possibility of more cloudbursts and landslides following a heavy downpour in the region

Manali: The strategic Manali-Leh highway was blocked again on Thursday after a flooded rivulet washed away a stretch of over 200 meter highway in the morning. The Kullu administration has sounded an alert since there is an increased possibility of more cloudbursts and landslides following a heavy downpour in the region.

Over 1,200 tourists, stranded after a cloudburst between Patseo and Zingzing Bar blocked the highway on Tuesday night, were rescued after over 17 hours. On Thursday , another stretch of the highway , 7km beyond Patseo, was swept away and the covered the area with debris. The flash flood left over 500 vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway .

Sources said there are many stretches on the road that have become unstable and heavy rain many trigger sliding of the stretches anytime.

Border Roads Organization commanding officer Lt Col Vijay Kumar said the entire road has been submerged under water stream. “The water is flowing so fast that it can damage vehicles. Tonnes of debris with huge boulders have come down on the road. We have deployed heavy machinery to clear debris and resume traffic but the water flow is very high. Our jawans will clear the road very soon,“ he said.

Monsoon is still to come and the heavy downpour has started to wreak havoc. Even the dry places of Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh that experience almost negligible rain are re ceiving heavy downpour. Major roads of Ladakh connecting Leh town with Pangong Tso and Nubra Valley have also experienced landslides.Many incidents of rolling stones were reported in Kullu district.

Lahaul-Spiti deputy commissioner Deva Singh Negi said all possible efforts are being made to provide relief to the tourists. “This is peak tourist season in Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh. Hundreds of tourists are travelling on ManaliLeh highway . Tourists are requested to make their plans only after ensuring the weather conditions. Landslides can occur anytime. They should carry enough drinking water, meal and warm clothes along with them,“ he said.

Kullu administration has directed all the departments to stay alert to deal with any untoward incident. Tourists have been directed not to venture close to landslide prone areas and water bodies. Taking precautionary measures, river rafting in Beas remained closed for the third day.