An automatic weather station (AWS) is being set up by the Central Water Commission (CWC) at the Rohtang Top to obtain real-time climate data on the pass in Himachal Pradesh, The Tribune has reported.

Rohtang pass is the connecting link between the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu valley. The AWS, having a satellite link with a base station, will provide an accurate forecast of the weather conditions at the pass and will benefit the local district administration in issuing travel advisories to the villagers, traffic management and planning operations to clear the snow.

“The project has been approved and we are now in the process of acquiring a small chunk of land near the top. We have approached the state government as well as the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the purpose,” an officer said.

Two weather stations are situated on either side at the base of the pass, one at Koksar towards Keylong and other near Kothi towards Manali.

The officer told that the two stations do not provide accurate forecast for the higher reaches that experience heavy snowfall.

He said, “AWS will be able to provide information pertaining to the quantum of precipitation and the depth of snow at the top, which will be useful for deciding on movement of traffic or deploying snow-clearing equipment.”