Shimla, June 21 :

The centuries-old Shipki La pass in Himachal Pradesh has been thrown open to traders from India and China after remaining closed due to heavy snowfall for over seven months.

Trade on the 5,200 metre high pass in tribal Kinnaur valley, some 250-km from here, was restored in 1993 after being closed in 1962 due to Chinese aggression. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is also constructing a motorable road from the Indian side to connect the high pass.

“Himachal Police have set up a check post and a team of the customs department will arrive soon to man the post,” Raman Sharma, a senior state government official said.