Himachal Pradesh Limps To Normalcy: Evacuation nearly over, focus now on restoring infra

A total of 1,020 roads were still blocked in the state, while 2,498 transformers and 1,244 water supply schemes have been disrupted,” an official of the state emergency operation centre said.

Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar said that they arranged for expert drivers to drive the tourist vehicles out of Chandertal, a snowbound area. Food and medical supplies are being provided to the tourists at Losar before taking them to Kaza and the superintendent of police is supervising the rescue operation.

All 256 stranded tourists have been successfully rescued from Chandra Taal lake and have safely reached Losar. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the team led by Hon’ble Minister Jagat Negi and CPS @SanjayAwasthy for their exceptional efforts in orchestrating this challenging… https://t.co/Sx0hNSzmOq

— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) July 13, 2023

The distance between Chnadertal and Losar is about 32 km. Chandertal Lake in Spiti valley is a much sought after tourist destination where visitors stay in camps. Terming the evacuation from Chandertal a “challenging task”, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who did an aerial survey of Losar, Chandertal, Sirru and Manali on Wednesday, had tasked Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi to assist the rescue efforts.

Negi hails from the tribal Kinnaur district and is acquainted with the harsh topography.

The evacuation started after the revenue minister reached Chandertal early in the morning. More than 250 people, mostly tourists, were stranded in Chandertal, while seven sick people, including two elderly and a girl, were airlifted by an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter to Bhunter on Tuesday.

Due to a heavy landslide near Dunkhara on Kasol-Bhuntar road, the vehicles could not be moved and the tourists climbed the slide for evacuation. Sukhu said the police will provide the tourists with a receipt and they can take their vehicles when roads are clear.

The CM visited the flood-hit Thunag sub-division in Mandi and announced to provide Rs 1 lakh each to the affected families and to provide land for the construction of the houses, which were swept away. He also directed to channelize the Thunag rivulet so as to avoid flooding.

Himanchal Pradesh, July 13 (ANI): National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team conduct a rescue operation wherein they rescued 28 people who were stranded due to the rise in water level on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

With recovery of three more bodies, the death toll following heavy rains in the state has reached 42. The total death toll due to rain-related incidents and road accidents has risen to 91 so far since the onset of monsoon on June 24, said education minister Rohit Thakur.
As many as 14 persons are missing and the state has suffered losses to the tune of about Rs 4,000 crore, he added.

Meanwhile, 113 persons stranded ahead of Karcham near Sangla and other areas have been evacuated through six sorties, Sukhu said. The CM airlifted nine stranded tourists in his chopper till Shimla.

“Ninety-five people, including foreigners, were brought to safe places at Sangla, Chitkul and Raksham in Kinnaur district, and those affected by floods in Sangla have been temporarily sheltered in schools, guest houses and hotels,” officiating DGP Satwant Atwal had said Wednesday night.

Himanchal Pradesh, July 13 (ANI): National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team conduct a rescue operation wherein they rescued 28 people who were stranded due to the rise in water level on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

Visited Choling, Kinnaur today to empathize with those affected by the disaster. Assuring everyone’s safety is our utmost concern. Our government is tirelessly working to ensure the rescue and well-being of all stranded individuals. cont..1 pic.twitter.com/BCuLN7aOSj

— CMO HIMACHAL (@CMOFFICEHP) July 13, 2023

“Six Israelis have been brought to Manikaran and 37 Israelis are at Barshaini, and all of them are safe,” she added. Tourists from America, Russia, Israel, Germany, Spain, Australia and Romania are also stuck in Himachal besides domestic tourists.

Israel Deputy Chief of Mission Ohad Nakash Kaynar tweeted on Thursday, “Going to Himachal Pradesh on the Director General and Ambassador’s directive to try and reconnect with Israeli tourists who are in flooded areas like Kasol, Kalga and Pulga.”

Chief Secretary Saxena, meanwhile, said that the entire state machinery has been deployed on war footing for the rescue and relief work.“Camps have been set up at several places to provide shelter, food supplies, medical aid and other essential help to the rescued and needy people”, Saxena said. The Chief Secretary chaired a meeting with the department secretaries and Deputy Commissioners of all the districts to monitor the rescue, relief and restoration work and to assess the losses. Saxena directed the officials to ensure that all the essential services were being smoothly operated in the flood hit areas. He said restoration of roads, power and water supplies, medical facilities, communication services, especially mobile connectivity and fuel supplies, should be taken uip on priority.