HP: Chitkul-Sangla highway reopens after three days

Shimla, Jul 27 (UNI) The Kinnaur district Administration didn’t allow vehicular traffic on Chitkul Sangla highway as nine tourists were killed in the recent incident of shooting boulders and stones on the highway damaging a valley bridge on the bank of Baspa River.
Deputy Commissioner Kinnuar Abid Hussain Sadiq told UNI that Sangla-Chhitkul Road has been cleared and all the tourists who were struck at Chhitkul and Rakcham have been evacuated from the area after three days of mishap.
There are as many as 63 tourists and locals stranded on the both side of highway to move on vulnerable places however Public Works Department have keeping vigil on the conditions of landslides and further threat of coming down of boulders and shooting stones on the highway.
Subdivision Officer informed that vehicular traffic would be expected to allow by this evening however it is still closed since the incident.
The Officer said that Chitkul (last bordering village on Indo-Sino border) and Raksham are connected by the Sangala -Chitkul highway was kept close by district administration since Sunday.
He said that valley rope way would be used to ferry the local people across the Baspa River to cross right bank after the it has collapsed as hit by boulder due to massive landslide on Sunday.
There also exist a temporary valley bridge to connect Batsari village located on the right bank bank of river now being used temporarily by the people.
Efforts would be made to restore the damaged bridge soon to facilitate the vehicular traffic as villagers of Batsari have cut off from damaging of the bridge with important in the condition keeping safety concern, he added.