Manali-Leh highway closed today for 6 months till May, violators to face action

The Manali-Leh national highway will remain closed from November 20 onwards due to cold weather conditions and potential driving risks. The closure has been ordered by the administrations of Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh. The Darcha-Sarchu, Darcha-Shinku La, and Gramphu-Kaza roads will also be closed starting Monday. The highway is expected to reopen in May next year after the snow on the road melts.

An official from the Lahaul administration stated that action would be taken against those who violate the closure orders and travel on this route until the road reopens next year. The official explained that despite clear weather, the dropping temperatures have caused the road to become icy, posing a risk of accidents. The closure has been implemented as a preventive measure.

However, officials mentioned that vehicles will be allowed from Manali to Darcha as long as the weather permits. In a separate order, the UT of Ladakh highlighted the significant risk of vehicles getting stranded on the Manali-Leh route. Due to the cold weather conditions and reports of icing on roads, especially at high mountain passes, it has been decided to close the Leh-Manali road to avoid travel disruptions and potential vehicle strandings.


According to the order, no vehicle will be allowed to travel from Upshi police check post, Leh, towards Darcha starting from November 20. The Ladakh administration has instructed the local police department to strictly enforce the closure orders and advised tourists to avoid traveling on the route to prevent inconvenience.

Every year, the teams of Lahaul-Spiti police and the Border Roads Organization (BRO) rescue hundreds of people who get stranded on the Manali-Leh route. The highway has already experienced two spells of snowfall in October and November this year, resulting in two closures.