Atal Tunnel

About Atal Tunnel

• Atal Tunnel, formerly known as Rohtang Tunnel, is the world's longest high-altitude tunnel, situated at an elevation of approximately 3,100 meters (10,171 feet) above sea level.
• It is located in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, in Himachal Pradesh.
• It passes through Rohtang pass.
• It stretches 9.02 km, connecting Manali to Lahaul and Spiti Valley throughout the year, previously cut off for about six months each year due to heavy snowfall.
• The south portal (SP) of Atal Tunnel is located at a distance of 25 km from Manali at an altitude of 3,060 metres, while the north portal (NP) of the tunnel is located near village Teling, Sissu, in Lahaul Valley at an altitude of 3,071 metres.
• The tunnel is a horseshoe-shaped,single tube, double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 meters, has an overhead clearance of 5.525 meters.
• The tunnel features a semi-transverse ventilation system, emergency exits every 500 meters, evacuation lighting, broadcasting systems, and fire hydrants for safety.

Q1: What is the Pir Panjal Range?

Pir Panjal Range, mountain range in the northern Indian subcontinent. It is part of the western (Punjab) Himalayas, the western outlier of the vast Himalayas system.

Source: 168 roads closed in Himachal Pradesh as snow and rain hit region