Authorities issue strict advisory; vehicle movement beyond Gulaba-Marhi to be stopped
Munish Sood
MANALI/Lahaul Spiti:
The district administration of Lahaul-Spiti has announced that the Manali-Leh highway, including the Rohtang Pass stretch, will be completely closed from November 20 due to heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures and increasing risk of black ice.
The seasonal closure, which generally lasts for nearly six months, was confirmed after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) shared fresh updates with the police.
According to the Lahaul-Spiti Police advisory, no vehicular movement will be allowed beyond Gulaba/Marhi towards Rohtang and the Manali-Sarchu route will be fully restricted. Deputy Commissioner Kiran Bhadana has issued official orders enforcing the closure.
Authorities said the stretch from Zingzing Bar to Sarchu has become extremely unsafe following recent snowfall and sub-zero temperatures which have caused dangerous icy patches on the road. As a result, movement of all categories of vehicles is banned until further orders.
The police have urged drivers and transporters not to proceed beyond Gulaba-Marhi or Zingzing Bar without verifying the latest BRO advisory, warning that accumulated snow and sudden roadblocks could trap vehicles. The DC has also notified that violating these closure orders may attract up to one year of imprisonment under the law.
Early winter leads to faster closure this year
The Manali-Leh highway, one of India’s highest and toughest mountain routes, generally closes around the end of October due to the onset of winter. This year, the region witnessed early snowfall, and although weather remained clear intermittently, temperatures have now dipped sharply, causing water to freeze on the road surface, a key reason for the early shutdown.
The highway, maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, typically reopens around May after weeks of snow clearance operations. Historically, BRO teams begin road-opening work in early spring, battling multiple layers of hardened snow and avalanches in areas such as Baralacha La and Sarchu.
Travellers have only 3 days to exit Leh or return to Himachal
The administration has cautioned travellers currently in Leh or Lahaul that they effectively have three days to return before the route is closed for the season. Once the shutdown begins, the movement is allowed only up to Darcha and even that route often faces closures during severe snow spells.
Officials have advised the public to monitor BRO updates, district advisories and weather alerts closely as temperatures are expected to dip further in the coming week.
