SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday afternoon visited the flash flood-hit areas of Lahaul valley of Lahaul-Spiti district to assess the situation and to oversee the relief rescue work being carried by the district administration.
During his visit, the chief minister also interacted with the local population and assured them of all possible assistance to restore the road connectivity at the earliest to ensure the transportation of their cash crops to outside the district.
He also interacted with the stranded people including tourists.
In all, 178 stranded people were sent by road to Kullu, including 37 people who were stranded at Jahlama, 14 people stranded at Fura village and 15 people stranded at Shansha.
Thakur also directed the officials of Public Works Department to explore the possibility of constructing a link road on the left banks of Chandra-Bhaga river as being demanded by the local population that would ensure the earlier road connectivity through Lingar and Rashil villages to Udaipur and Pangi.
Lahaul-Spiti MLA and tribal development minister Ram Lal Markanda, who is camping in the affected areas, said that administration was looking after the boarding and lodging of stranded people.
He said that local Mahila Mandals are providing foods to everyone including those involved in rescue and restoration works.
In Lahaul-Spiti district, on July 27, due to cloudburst and severe floods, heavy damage has been caused to the Tandi-Sansarinala road and bridges.
The Jahalma bridge on the Tandi-Sansarinal road has been washed away and the bridges at Shansha, Madgran and Thirot have suffered heavy damage.
Markanda said that the Border Roads Organization is engaged on a war-footing to repair these bridges and roads.
He along with the commander of 38 BRTIF, Col Uma Shankar, reached the spot to take stock of the situation and expedite the restoration work on Saturday.
He said that the traffic on the Tandi-Sansarinal road would take 20 to 25 days to be restored and for the time being alternate arrangements along the damaged bridges have been made for people to cross the road.
He said that people stranded are being crossed through Shansha nullah through ropeway trolley prepared by the Mechanical Wing of Public Works Department in collaboration with the Mountaineering Institute.
He said that three persons who were missing after the flash flood at Tojing nullah are still untraceable and the National Disaster Response Force team has been sent back.
He said that dog squad of police would reach the spot on Saturday to launch search operation.
