2 pilgrims swept away in Kinnuar flash floods, 253 rescued

SHIMLA: Two pilgrims were washed away in flash floods triggered by heavy rain at Kinner Kailash in tribal Kinnaur district, officials said on Saturday.

The district authorities confirmed that a woman and a man died after they were swept by gushing stream of water while crossing Kangnang nullah. They were hit by a boulder when torrential rains caused flooding in the rivulet, they added.

The deceased were identified as Sangita Maurya, 43, a resident of Pune in Maharashtra and Kuldeep Thakur, 32, a Shimla resident. As many as 253 pilgrims on way to Kinner Kailash mountain were struck at Kangnang Nullah on Friday evening.

District administration had launched a massive rescue operation to evacuate all the 253 stranded pilgrims.

Kinnaur officiating deputy commissioner Anvinder Kumar Sharma said as many as 50 stranded persons were rescued during the midnight rescue operations. We took help from Indotibetan Border Police, besides home guards were also requisitioned, Sharma said, adding that all the stranded 253, persons were rescued by Saturday afternoon. “All the tourists and pilgrims visiting the area have been asked to inform and register themselves with the district administration,” the DC said and added that all the persons who were stranded had not registered themselves .