Yogesh Sarkar
Administrator
There are rumors that civilian access to the Agham – Shyok Route, Chushul, Hanle and Umling La has been stopped and the DC Office has stopped issuing permit for Chushul and Hanle (permit was never issued for Agham-Shyok route or Umling La.)
Firstly, the rumor is partially true. Leh Administration is expected to take a call on whether or not to stop issuing permit for Hanle in the coming days.
This is mainly due to the fact that those having permit for Hanle, have been going to Photi La and Umling La (these weren't open for civilians.) This has irked both the army and the administration and as a result, the administration is contemplating scrapping the permit for Hanle. Since the area around Hanle is quite close to the LAC (Line of Actual Control) and thus quite sensitive.
The armed forces are also irked by the fact that videos have been posted online showing the entire route, along with GPS maps and people are attempting Umling La without any permission (few bikers and their backup vehicle were recently caught and detained by the armed forces en route to Umling La.)
This along with the fact that Army is expecting trouble from the Chinese this summer (read From Ladakh to Arunachal, India braces for tense summer) has made cutting off civilian access to sensitive areas a very real possibility this year.
I sincerely hope, Leh Administration doesn’t make travelers, as well as business owners in Hanle and Chushul, pay for the mistake of a few.
This thread will be updated, once the administration issues the formal order.
Update 1: DC Office is planning to start issuing permit for Agham – Shyok route as well as for the Spangmik – Chushul, and Tangste – Chushul routes. The bad news is, unless you have permission for these routes, you won’t be allowed on them.
Permit issuance for Hanle is temporarily suspended, decision regarding it will be taken soon.
Update 3: Hanle Permit are being issued as usual by the permit office, without the need for anything, hopefully, the troubles are over.
Firstly, the rumor is partially true. Leh Administration is expected to take a call on whether or not to stop issuing permit for Hanle in the coming days.
This is mainly due to the fact that those having permit for Hanle, have been going to Photi La and Umling La (these weren't open for civilians.) This has irked both the army and the administration and as a result, the administration is contemplating scrapping the permit for Hanle. Since the area around Hanle is quite close to the LAC (Line of Actual Control) and thus quite sensitive.
The armed forces are also irked by the fact that videos have been posted online showing the entire route, along with GPS maps and people are attempting Umling La without any permission (few bikers and their backup vehicle were recently caught and detained by the armed forces en route to Umling La.)
This along with the fact that Army is expecting trouble from the Chinese this summer (read From Ladakh to Arunachal, India braces for tense summer) has made cutting off civilian access to sensitive areas a very real possibility this year.
I sincerely hope, Leh Administration doesn’t make travelers, as well as business owners in Hanle and Chushul, pay for the mistake of a few.
This thread will be updated, once the administration issues the formal order.
Update 1: DC Office is planning to start issuing permit for Agham – Shyok route as well as for the Spangmik – Chushul, and Tangste – Chushul routes. The bad news is, unless you have permission for these routes, you won’t be allowed on them.
Permit issuance for Hanle is temporarily suspended, decision regarding it will be taken soon.
Update 3: Hanle Permit are being issued as usual by the permit office, without the need for anything, hopefully, the troubles are over.
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such hypocrisy.