ROHTANG PASS MANALI

   Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh has been closed for traffic until next summer due to the early onset of winter in the high mountains, officials said Friday.

"Due to continuous freezing temperatures and light spells of snowfall over the 13,050 foot high Rohtang Pass, it has been closed to traffic early," said Major Ved Prakash of the Border Roads Organisation (BROs) at Manali, 280 km from here.

The pass, 55 km from the popular tourist resort of Manali, is an important destination for tourists visiting the picturesque Kullu valley.

The Bara Lacha Pass, which falls ahead of the Rohtang Pass, was closed for traffic on October 15 due to inclement weather. This pass leads to the strategic Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Rohtang Pass will open in May 204 when the BRO clears the mountains of snow using heavy machinery.