Shimla, Jan 5
The unabated cold-wave, incessant rain or snow in many places has paralysed normal life in Himachal Pradesh as 314 roads including main National highways, 320 power lines and 24 water supply schemes were disrupted due to the mounting of snow on the roads also plummeting mercury several degrees below normal.
The spokesperson of state disaster Management Sudesh Mokta said in press brief that
as many as 314 roads, two national highways and one state highway are snowbound and vehicular is traffic shut down, here.
Lahaul Spiti is worst affected by the heavy snowfall which continues as 134 roads including
National highway No-505 blocked between Gramphu to Lossar and NH -3 at Darcha to Sarchu. 26 state highways are completely off in the district. 86 roads are off in Lahaul and 48 in Udaipur Subdivisions.
86 roads are snowbound in Chamba district including 43 in Pangi, 13 in Tissa, 12 in Chamba, 11 in Salooni, six in Bharmaur and one in Dalhousie subdivision.
In tourist spot Manali and Kullu district as many as 13 roads are snowbound including
NH- 305 (Jalori pass) and NH-3 (Rohtang Pass & Attal tunnel). Eight roads in the district were off in Banjar and eight in Manali subdivision.
In Kinnuar district 51 roads are closed including 32 in Pooh, 16 in Kalpa and three in Nichar Sub Division. 26 roads are off in Mandi district ( 23 in Seraj and three in Mandi subdivision.
In Shimla district four roads are off including two in Rampur and one each in Rohru and Dodrra Kawar area.
As many as 320 Transmission power lines are down in the state due to snapping of power lines, cables and spans and overloading of transformers. 81 transmission lines are off in Chamba district including 62 in Pangi, 15 in Dalhousie and four in Chamba Subdivision
The Kinnuar is worst affected as 79 distribution transformers are out of order including 59 in Kalpa 19 in Pooh and one in Nichar.
In Mandi district 97 power supply lines are down including 61 in Bali Chowki and 36 in Seraj. In kullu district 55 distribution power lines are off in Kullu subdivision, eight in Lahaul sub division of Lahaul Spiti district.
24 Water supply Schemes are also affected due to freezing temperature and non availability of power includes 17 in Chamba and seven in Lahaul Spiti district.
Suprintendent of Police Shimla Monika Bhatunguru said that ten people who were trapped in snow at Khidki pass have been rescued by the police team rushed to spot from Chopal police station. She cautioned the people that they are requested to venture on the travel only when it would absolutely necessity and should drive carefully as the many roads in the district are snowbound and are slippery or not safe for the driving other than 4×4.
She said that due to frequent spell of snowfall in Shimla district movement of vehicles are permitted on the Hindustan Tibet National highway no -5 between Shimla and Rampur via Narkanda (has 13cm snow and slippery) and on Shimla -Rohru via Kharapathar (13 cm snowfall and slippery).
She said that vehicular traffic would be halted in snow bond areas and people should avoid their journey on the above road routes for some time and in case of extreme necessity they should prefer taking safer alternate route(s).
Denying the rumours of misbehaving with tourists on Tuesday she said that distress message has been in circulation since last evening on WhatsApp about a Kolkata based tourist couple facing some safety issues on their trip to Shimla. The contents of the complaint have been thoroughly verified by Shimla Police and have not been found to be correct.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur who belonged to Seraj area of Mandi himself affected by the snowfall told media person on Tuesday evening that he had convened a high level meeting to be attended by the state Chief Secretary and Deputy commissioners, polices and members of disaster management cells to restore the situation early and to evacuate tourists, patients, students and employees who are serving in the hard and tribal areas.
He said that state machinery is being put on high alert in wake of red warning of heavy snowfall in many areas of state during next 24 hrs to clear the snow and supply to essentials to the affected areas by the heavy snowfall . The state government has already deployed snow cutters and emergency vehicles to clear the road and provide assistance to the stranded people who require immediate assistance, he added.
