The rising level of water in Kiri River in Lahaul region has put more then 2,500 residents of thirteen villages and eight Israeli nationals in trouble. Stranded in their own treacherous valley, villagers had been seeking help for over a week as their food and other commodities have almost depleted. Power supply and telephone connectivity to the valley has snapped and some confused and helpless villagers have already made failed attempts to cross the flooded stream, putting their lives in danger.
About 2 km stretch of the connecting road has disappeared and all retaining walls across the stream have completely collapsed. Residents of Mud, Guling, Sagnam, Khar and other affected villages are requesting government to drop ration, LPG, kerosene and other facilities by air.
Residents are surprised to see non-stop flow of water and debris which they claim had never been witnessed for decades. 150 people who were working close to the stream, which was already in spate, had a narrow escape on Thursday when water level increased suddenly and washed away huge chunks of land. The flooded stream witnessed a sudden rise in level again on Friday. As the government failed to airlift tourists, a team of local administration, police and rescue volunteers who visited the spot could not find the exact source of flood water. Now the administration has planned to drop ration and medicines to villages on Saturday.
Lahaul-Spiti MLA Ram Lal Markandeya has asked general administration department to arrange for a helicopter to airlift the stranded tourists. Meanwhile, Himachal government has failed to airlift the stranded tourists, but good news is coming from the Israel as they have been contacting people in Spiti seeking help to obtain permit to land their own helicopter.
