Himachal Pradesh Bans Tourists in Lahaul-Spiti & Rohtang Tunnel till April 2021

Tourists since long have been hoping to catch a glimpse of snowfall in the Lahaul-Spiti area of Himachal Pradesh. However, as we know the times are hard, there is another bad news for the intrepid travellers. The district administration has barred outsiders from entering the region due to a spike in cases involving COVID-19. 

To prevent tourists from entering Lahaul-Spiti, a police check post was set up at Sissu. This move comes after an extraordinary increase with a population of just 20,000 registering six deaths due to COVID-19 cases. 

The local administration banned tourist activities until April 2021 as Lahaul and Spiti's state regions were the worst affected by the COVID pandemic.

The Rohtang Tunnel, that links Lahaul-Spiti with the rest of the world, will remain open for local use. Local areas were cut off from the rest of the world before the tunnel was completed, as heavy snowfall disrupted other connection routes during winter. With seven panchayats from Lahaul and Spiti experiencing a sudden outbreak in COVID-19 cases over the past quarter, the district administration has barred the entry of outsiders into the tribal area that has drawn many tourists' inauguration the Rohtang Atal Tunnel.

Spiti Valley – Comes with Limited Medical Facilities

Both hotels and homestays are closed this year in Spiti as well. The decision was taken after analyzing the pandemic's impact on Spiti's high altitude valley, considering the minimal medical facilities, undeveloped infrastructure, and harsh geographical conditions. The Tourism Society, however, agrees that closure would hurt the economy, but it was a required move to curb the spread of coronavirus. The valley would be much more fragile with winters getting closer. For treatment, any person needing medical assistance will need to step outside Spiti.

According to Section 144, which forbids the assembly of five or more people and public meetings, the administration has imposed restrictions on seven panchayats. 

In the past two weeks, as many as 166 cases of COVID-19 from Gondla panchayat alone have been registered. The situation in Tholang village was troubling, where 41 out of 42 residents tested positive. Officials said that during a function affiliated with a local deity organized a few days ago; the infection may have spread.

Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Rai of Lahaul and Spiti said outsiders would not be permitted beyond the Forest Department's nursery near Sissu, close to the north portal of the Atal tunnel. To keep a watch on travellers, a police check post has been set up. However, the ban excludes local citizens and military personnel who take this path to continue to Ladakh and other border regions.