Manali/Shimla: In a display of swift action, as many as 2,500 tourist vehicles, along with 800 individuals, who were stranded in Kasol and Lahaul and Manali, have been rescued and were on their way back homes after four days.
Furthermore, in a parallel effort, 300 vehicles trapped in the snow-covered Lahaul-Spiti region have also been safely evacuated and were on their way back on the Manali-Chandigarh Highway.
The rescue team of over 500 personnel swung into action as soon as the furious Beas and Parbati rivers receded for the last 24 hours after the tandav of rains subsided in the deluge-scarred Mandi-Kullu region.
Not only this, eight persons of Jeori farm and three of their relatives were rescued from Kara and in Kinnaur. .
The restoration of the highway and clearance of landslides at various points by the dedicated teams of 500 workers from the HPPWD and district administration Kullu, and Jal Shakti vibhag, HPSEBL played a crucial role in facilitating the movement of traffic and other Pani and Bijli for the rescue mission.
Accompanied by Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and Kullu MLA Sunder Thakur the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is personally overseeing the operations from his camp in Kullu since yesterday. The rescue teams have been working tirelessly around the clock.
Sukhu interacted with the evacuated tourists, who expressed their gratitude to the CM and Kullu administration for their prompt action and safety concern of thousands of tourists stranded in the rain and flood battered Valleys.
Their unwavering efforts resulted in the clearance of a significant road breach, spanning 300 meters on the Bhuntar-Kullu road, known as the Dankada road breach.
Acknowledging the successful passage of 2,200 vehicles through Kullu, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the district administration of Kullu, who ensured the provision of essential food items to the stranded tourists at Ramshila Chowk.
Furthermore, last night witnessed the deployment of Pickup Jeeps to evacuate around 800 individuals from Kasol and Manikaran.
The challenging task was compounded by the complete washout of a 300-meter stretch at Dungada on the Kasol Manikannan Buntar Road.
As the day progresses, more evacuation efforts are on the cards to rescue the remaining tourists who have been stranded in Kullu, Manali, and Lahaul-Spiti over the past four days.
