Lahaul-Spiti (Himachal): More than 221 tourists have been stranded in Udaipur sub division of Lahaul-Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh following a cloudburst. Among those stranded, 30 are tourists from other states and they include women and small children. The district administration and NDRF teams are busy carrying out rescue operations, to free the stranded people. As per reports, there are also vegetable traders who got stuck along with their vehicles in the high-altitude area.
District officials and Technical Education Minister Dr. Ramlal Markanda is continuously monitoring the rescue operations. The tourists who reached Lahaul-Spiti from outside states have appealed to the government for help, saying that they have been stuck due to the heavy rains and floods, adding that they are being provided assistance by locals.
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It is learnt that helicopter support has been sought from the state government by the administration to rescue those stranded at different places in Udaipur sub-division of Lahaul Valley. Also, women and children will be rescued on priority basis. However, as the weather in the district still continues to be inclement, the chances of helicopter being deployed for the rescue is also very less.
All out efforts are being made by the administration to provide constant support to the families of those stranded tourists. They are also being assured that the tourists are safe and that there is no need to panic. Neeraj Kumar, the DC of Lahaul-Spiti says that all the stranded tourists will be safely rescued and that arrangements are being made to provide them with food and water.
