Here's How Rohtang Tunnel Helped In Rescuing At Least 300 Stranded Tourists
Although digging work of the 8.8 km Rohtang tunnel has been completed, it is expected to be opened to the public only in early 2020.
Over 1500 tourists were stranded in snow-marooned Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. However, the under-construction Rohtang tunnel proved to be the lifeline for at least 306 people who were rescued and brought to Manali through the tunnel.
According to Manali's SDM Raman Garsangi, most of the rescued people were stranded at Koksar, Sissu, and other nearby areas. The remaining 50 to 60 people in these regions would be brought out either on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Although digging work of the 8.8 km Rohtang tunnel has been completed, it is expected to be opened to the public only in early 2020. Considered an engineering marvel, it has been used in the past few months during emergencies, like evacuating sick people during the freezing winter.
A lot of rescuing still needs to be done with 250 people stranded at Keylong, 65 at Chandertal lake near Kunzum Pass and 60 at Batal along Gramphu-Kaza road. About 30 people are stranded at Losar in Spiti valley.
Agriculture and tribal development minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda was flown to Keylong to oversee the rescue operations of the state government.
He said that untimely snowfall has not only left tourists stranded in different parts of the district but has also caused massive destruction with 90% of apple crop along with trees damaged. Electric poles, willow and poplar trees too have suffered extensive damage.
The minister said all roads are blocked and machines have been pressed into service to open them to evacuate stranded people out of valley through the Rohtang tunnel.
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Five people, including three women, were airlifted from Patsio along Keylong-Leh highway and dropped off at Bhuntar.
¡°Our first priority is to clear the snow and open up the roads. At the same time, three choppers would airlift stranded people,¡± he added. A war room has been established at Keylong to oversee rescue operations.
On Monday evening, some 1,000 food packets were dropped at different locations, including near Kunzum Pass where some truck drivers and other people were spotted earlier. All the people are safe and they were seen collecting the packets.
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Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said that Union government has been requested to provide liberal assistance to the state.
He has also asked for Rs 200 crore as immediate relief for relief, restoration and rehabilitation works. He added that the state government has released Rs 230 crore for rehabilitation work.
¡°I had a word with the Union home minister Rajnath Singh and defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman and three IAF helicopters have been provided for evacuating those stranded in Lahaul valley,¡± he said.
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He said that the road from Kullu to Manali which has been damaged badly would be restored within a week.
Water supply lines in Manali to have been damaged and would take three days to be repaired. Power supply to about 40% of the region has been affected and would be restored within a week.
German couple airlifted
Indian Air Force rescued a German couple from Pingdom La area of Lahaul-Spiti on Tuesday morning. The duo had gone trekking in the area last week but were left stranded following heavy snowfall and a blizzard. They had been surviving inside a tent. On Monday, they sought help through personal locator beacon. IAF then airlifted them to the Western Air Command.