Rains Subside in Himachal Pradesh, But Rescue Operations Continue

As rains subsided in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, the evacuation of over 1,500 tourists still stranded in snow-marooned Lahaul-Spiti district continued on a war footing, IANS reported citing an official.

Early snowfall in the higher reaches and cloud bursts devastated large parts of the state between 22 to 24 September. Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti were the worst affected districts.

Meanwhile, after three days of continuous rainfall, most parts of Punjab and Haryana witnessed no rainfall on Wednesday.

Major parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab witnessed massive from 22 to 24 September

Schools in at least nine of 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh will remain closed on Monday after rains and snowfall lashed many parts of the state, reported PTI, quoting officials.

As water level increased in rivers and streams following incessant rain, a man died after he was swept away in the swelling Nahad Khad (rivulet) in Kangra district, PTI reported quoting the district administration.

As per the report, Tilak Raj, a resident of Luskwara village in Jawali tehsil, was swept away when he was crossing the rivulet Monday morning. Efforts were on to trace the body, the officials said.

In another incident, a 14-year-old girl was washed away in Kullu's Bajaoura, state Forest Minister Govind Singh Thakur said.

Heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh on Monday claimed eight lives and hundreds, including school students, remained stranded across the state after incessant rainfall for the third consecutive day, triggering landslides and snapping over 200 road links, officials told IANS.

The Indian Air Force has recused 21 people stranded on islets in the swollen Beas river in Himachal Pradesh over the last two days.

On Sunday, a request was received at Sarsawa Airforce Station at around 2:30 pm from the Himachal Pradesh government to rescue its personnel struck due to incessant rains in Kullu.

One Medium Lift Helicopter was launched from the 'Mighty Armour' unit of Western Air Command based at Sarsawa. The helicopter was piloted by Squadron Leaders Vipul Gupta and Dhiman was the co-pilot.

The helicopter reached the spot and found 19 people stranded on an islet on the Beas river.

Anurag Thakur, the BJP MP from Hamirpur, Monday sought Centre's assistance to compensate the losses due to heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh.

Thakur, who is also BJP's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, asked the central government to support the rain-battered state through the disaster relief fund.

Visuals of over flowing river in Bharmour's Kharamukh area in Chamba district as incessant rain continues to lash throughout the state.

Due to heavy rainfall alert for the next 24 hours, all government and private educational institutions and Anganwadi centres in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district to remain closed tomorrow.

The flood gates of the Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district may be opened on Monday night as the water level is running above the danger mark, an official told PTI.

The gates of the dam on the Beas river are being opened to avoid any damage to it. The water may be released anytime late in the night, a Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) official told PTI.

A group of eight people comprising a woman from Brunei Sanjida Tuba, a man from The Netherlands Abby Lim and six Indian nationals have gone missing from Lahaul-Spiti region where they had gone for a trip, reported ANI.

More than 49,000 cusecs of water will be released from the Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district on Tuesday afternoon as the water level in the dam is nearing the danger mark, an official said.

Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) Assistant Design Engineer (ADE) Arun Bhatia said more than 49,000 cusecs of water from the dam would be released at 3 pm Tuesday.

The group of eight travellers who were earlier feared missing from Lahaul-Spiti district have been reported safe at Koksar camp in the area, SDM of Keylong Amar Singh Negi told ANI.

Forty-five people, including 35 students from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee were reported missing after heavy rainfall in the mountainous Lahual and Spiti district, ANI reported late on Monday. They had gone for trekking in region.

The water level in Beas Dam on Tuesday breached the danger mark, News-18 reported. 49,000 cusecs of water set to be released from the dam, News-18 added.

Owing to the fresh warning, residents living in low-lying areas have been asked to stay vigilant.

In addition to Himachal Pradesh, three other states in north India, namely Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir, are reeling under heavy rainfall.

Eleven people were killed on Monday across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana. A red alert was issued in Punjab.

Facing the threat of rivers breaking their banks, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday ordered closure of all schools and colleges on Tuesday, 25 September. He also chaired a meeting with fellow ministers to assess the situation as well.

"The Army has been asked to remain on alert to help the state deal with any eventuality arising out of the situation," a state government spokesman told IANS.

Situation in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district improved on Tuesday after heavy rainfall lashed the state a day before.

The worries of farmers have increased as the standing paddy and cotton crops in agrarian states Punjab and Haryana has been damaged at a number of places owing to heavy rain, IANS reported. Apple crop was damaged in Himachal Pradesh as well due to fresh snowfall in Udaypur region of Lahaul-Spiti district.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday ordered special girdawari (survey) to assess possible crop damage. The paddy crop in both states was ready for harvest and procurement is to officially begin on 1 October.

The group of 50 trekkers, including IIT Roorkee students who were earlier reported missing, are safe in Sissu area of Lahaul-Spiti, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur told ANI.

Two German nationals, who were caught in a blizzard since two days, were rescued by Indian Air Force from Pingdom La, Lahaul-Spiti district on Tuesday, ANI reported. The operation was launched at 6 am and the duo were rescued within an hour.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police rescued 14 people who were stranded near Dhobi Nalah, in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Tuesday held a review meeting with the local administration in Bhuntar to assess the situation in the state.

“More than 300 people are stranded in Lahaul-Spiti due to heavy snowfall,” Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur told ANI.

“All of them are safe, they will be rescued soon. We have requested for two choppers for rescue operations. I have spoken to both the Defence and Home Minister who have assured us of all possible help,” he added.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday predicted dry weather for Himachal Pradesh from Wednesday onwards, a much-needed respite to the people of the state, who have been battling heavy rains for the last three days.

At least five people that includes three women were rescued from Patsio region in Himachal Pradesh by Indian Air Force, ANI reported.

The rescued persons have been taken to Bhunter, the report added.

Three people have been killed and three injured as boulders have hit a house in Nerwa area of Chopal town in Shimla.

(ANI)

One woman died and two Border Roads Organisation labourers were injured in Sarai area of Himachal Pradesh, in Lahaul-Spiti district, due to severe cold conditions. Body of the deceased person and the two injured persons will be airlifted soon.

Five nationals of Denmark and Norway were rescued in Kullu, the District Collector told ANI.

“We have rescued 5 nationals of Denmark and Norway. We will try to airlift and rescue around 100 people today. We will also rescue those stranded in Keylong and nearby areas,” he told ANI.

Around 300 people stranded in various parts of Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul and Spiti district have been rescued and most of the 600 roads of the state reopened after being blocked following recent snowfall, PTI reported.

Around 200 people are still stranded there.

Around 1,547 people were rescued in Himachal Pradesh on 26 September, Manisha Nanda, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management) told ANI.

Nanda also added that 71 were rescued on Thursday, 27 September. Search operations from other areas in the state are still underway.

Six bikers along with 20 tourists rescued in first sortie early morning today by Indian Air Force, ANI reported. They were stranded due to heavy snowfall at several locations near Chhattru and Chhota Dara.

Kargil district administration and Kargil District police rescued and airlifted around 60 Nepali porters including women and children and one French national on Saturday, ANI reported.

They were stranded near Lakhang in Kargil since 22 September due to heavy snowfall in the region.