'Avoid snowbound highway from November'

Shimla, Oct 15 (IANS) Motorists have been advised not to travel on the highway that connects tourist destinations Manali and Leh after Oct 31, an official said Wednesday.

The 475-km Manali-Leh highway passes through Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

'A brief spell of snowfall could close Rohtang and Baralacha passes any time by the end of this month. We (BRO) would not be in a position to carry out snow-clearance operation and evacuation of the people in case of any accident after Oct 31,' BRO Chief Engineer Brig J.K. Narang told IANS.

Narang advised motorists not to take any chance by travelling on the highway.