Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 14

Facebook and Whatsapp will remain the only means of contact for people of Lahaul-Spiti with the outside world from tomorrow with the closing of the 13,000-foot Rohtang Pass.
The Rohtang Pass will be officially closed for all vehicular movement from tomorrow for almost six months. With scientists predicting a very long and harsh winter this year, the wait for people of the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti may turn out to be even longer than six months.
The tribal district, which remains snow-bound for almost six months, has internet connectivity, but with power supply remaining affected for very long spells, at times it is only Facebook and Whatsapp on mobile phones which keep people of the area connected with the outside world.
“It is on November 15 every year that all vehicular movement beyond Rohtang Pass is closed. All state transport buses and tourist vehicles stop plying on this route as chances of heavy snowfall increases,” said Rakesh Kanwar, Deputy Commissioner, Kullu.
Even the Lahaul valley is closed for tourists from November 15 as chances of a heavy snowfall are high. The only means of travel for people after the area becomes snow-bound is government helicopter service, which locals rely on in case of medical emergency or other urgencies.
While the Rohtang Pass makes access impossible from the Manali side, it is Kunzum Pass on the Spiti side which makes the mountain insurmountable. The high mountain passes of Khardung La and Bara Lacha from the Leh side also make travel impossible. Roads from Pangi leading to Kashmir also close down.
With the advancement of technology, there are several means of connectivity that people of Lahaul-Spiti now have with the outside world. In earlier times, it was only through wireless connectivity that the administration established contact with great difficulty.
There is internet connectivity in many homes now and there are mobile phones in practically every household. There is a problem only when power supply remains disrupted for days together when there is heavy snowfall.