Day 5: 32 airlifted from Lahaul and Spiti; rescue operations culminate
DHARAMSHALA/MANDI: The six-day rescue operation in Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh ended on Saturday with 32 people, mostly tourists, airlifted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters on the final day on Saturday.
They were stranded at Chhattru, Chhota Dara and Batal. Kullu deputy commissioner (DC) Yunus Khan said seven people were airlifted from Chhota Dara and 24 from Chhattru. “Rescued people have been brought to Kullu and given medical aid,” said Khan.
On Friday, a 38-year-old man who was found in a critical condition at Bharatpur region of the valley by General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) personnel, was airlifted to Leh by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Saturday.
In one of the longest and largest rescue operations of its kind in the state, teams of IAF, BRO, police and mountaineering experts evacuated more than 4,700 people, mostly tourists, who were stranded at various locations in the Himalayas due to heavy snowfall.
Early snowfall in the higher reaches, cloudburst and heavy rains snapped several road links from September 22 to 24. Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts were the worst affected.
Heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft) has cut off the Lahaul and Spiti valleys, affecting a large number of tourists and hampering the water and electricity supply.
“No one is left behind except a few truckers who refused to come without their vehicle. They have been provided with food and medical supplies,” said agriculture minister and Lahaul-Spiti legislator Ram Lal Markanda, who personally supervised the rescue operation.
Markanda said over 4,700 people were evacuated from the valley, around 250 of whom were airlifted. Though, the exact data will be known after the final figures are compiled, he said.
Rescued people include 30 foreign nationals.
He also said that Lahaul-Spiti has suffered huge loss due to the untimely snow. “Around 90% apple trees and 90% electricity infrastructure has been damaged,” said Markanda, as he expressed his gratitude towards the people of Lahaul-Spiti for their patience and helping out stranded people and rescue teams. The minister further said that 60% roads in the valley have been restored for traffic and 35 electricity board officers from Manali have been deployed in Lahaul-Spiti to restore power supply.