15 held for traffic obstruction, Covid norm violations inside Atal Rohtang tunnel

A total of 15 people in two vehicles were arrested on Sunday for causing obstruction in traffic inside Atal Tunnel Rohtang (ATR) and violating Covid-19 norms. Eight of them have also been fined Rs 40,000 by the Himachal Pradesh police.

"A total of 15 persons in 2 vehicles have been arrested today for causing obstruction in traffic in the tunnel and for Covid violations and 8 of them have also been fined Rs 40,000 under HP Police Act inside Atal Rohtang tunnel," said Gaurav Singh, Superintendent of Police, Kullu District.

Moreover, over 30 drivers who were overtaking the queue were fined for disturbing traffic movement.

These arrests were made on a day when a record number of 5,450 vehicles crossed the Atal Tunnel, an all-weather road beneath the 13,058-foot-high Rohtang Pass.

"Today, the Atal Tunnel Rohtang experienced the highest influx of the season with as many as 2,800 vehicles entering the valley and 2,650 leaving towards Manali. The daily average influx for December has been around 1,500 vehicles," said SP Lahaul Spiti district police.

A total of 2,800 vehicles entered the tunnel from the Manali side while 2,650 vehicles came from the Lahaul side.

( With inputs from ANI )

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