Shimla, Nov 21 (IANS): Snow-clearing is on to restore traffic on the Rohtang Pass, the gateway to the picturesque Lahaul Valley, an official said on Wednesday.

The Border Road Organisation (BRO) has started the work on opening the Rohtang Pass, Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Nanda said in a statement.

She said the government has aggressively taken up the matter with the BRO to restore the pass for the traffic to facilitate the movement of people of the Lahaul Valley, which has been cut off after the recent snowfall.

She said since the work on construction of Rohtang tunnel was under progress and it was not safe for plying of vehicles. She said that in case of any emergency, the people can talk to the Deputy Commissioners of Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts so that assistance could be made available.

Rescue posts have been set up on both sides of the Rohtang tunnel at Koksar and Marhi to ensure safety of the pedestrians crossing the pass, she added.

The pass, located at 3,978 metres in the Pir Panjal range and some 52 km from Manali, attracts hordes of backpackers, especially foreigners.