Thousands of tourists stranded in Kullu- Manali and Lahaul –Spiti district for the past several days due to road blocks at several places, after incessant rains in the state continuing since July 8, were evacuated on Wednesday. However efforts are being made to bring back 293 tourists stuck up at Chandratal Lake in Lahaul – Spiti district.
With weather remaining clear throughout the day at many places the Public Works Department and district administration restored traffic on Chandigarh – Manali national highway through alternative routes.
The Chief Minister, who made an aerial survey of Lahaul – Spiti district and Manali area on Wednesday said, “Nearly 25000 stranded people travelled from Manali back to their homes in private and government vehicles and 6552 vehicles had crossed Kullu towards Chandigarh by 4 pm.”
He said,” Nearly 3000 people have been evacuated from Kasol and its suburbs by the district administration and 52 school children of a Kullu school stuck up at Sissu were also brought back to Manali, besides restoring internet network, electricity at Manali and Kullu areas . ”
The traffic on Manali – Chandigarh route has been diverted from Jibhi to Sunder Nagar via Aut, Pandoh, and Chail Chowk road.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of Sissu, Chandertal and Losar and Manali region to take stock of the destruction caused by rains and promised every possible support to flood affected people.
“The Atal Tunnel is through for vehicular traffic and more than 300 vehicles have passed through this tunnel towards Mandi till 4 PM today and arrangement was also made to distribute 6000 food packets at Kullu” he added.
The Chief Minister directed the Revenue Minister, Jagat Singh Negi and Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Sanjay Awasthy to reach out to the people stranded at Chandertal Lake.
He said, “The state government is making every effort to reopen closed roads and PWD and BRO are trying to restore traffic in border areas.”
The CM also talked to flood affected people at Mandi and assured them of every help and directed district administration to give Rs 25000 each to flood affected families.
PWD minister Vikramaditya Singh and Mandi MP Pratibha Singh also visited flooded affected people at Mandi and Pandoh to take stock of the situation and assuring help to affected people.