Over 1,500 still stranded in Himachal due to heavy rains, snowfall; rescue operation continues
Process to evacuate those stranded in Himachal Pradesh is on and may take more days as officials on Wednesday confirmed more than 1500 tourists are still stranded in Lahaul-Spiti district of the state, which was hit by fresh snowfall. According to a statement, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had instructed officials to evacuate those stranded on a priority basis.
A total of 300 people evacuated on Tuesday were faculty and students from IITs Mandi, Roorkee, Guwahati and Mumbai and some foreigners.
Efforts by the state government and the Indian Air Force to airlift tourists stranded for the past four days were stepped up on Wednesday as the weather cleared.
Large parts of the state suffered devastation following snowfall in higher reaches, cloud burst and heavy rains. Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti remained the worst affected districts.
Route to the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys were cut off due to heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass that affected large number of tourists in Leh and Lahaul.
Road clearance operations by the BRO and a wing of the Defence Ministry have begun.
Refreshment and medical aid by the BRO is also being provided to the people rescued at the Project Rohtang Tunnel.