Life is fast returning to normalcy in tribal district of Kinnaur after incessant rains that hit the district during past three days causing havoc and bringing normal life to a standstill particularly in Sangla valley and other tourist destinations of Kinnaur district. Two teams of National Disaster Rescue Force have reached Rekong Peo to conduct relief and rescue operations.
Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, Capt. J.M. Pathania said that two choppers of Indian Air Force and one of State Government has been pressed into service to evacuate the stranded tourists from Kinnaur and as many as 110 tourists who were stranded in Recong-Peo and Sangla were airlifted today to Shimla and Rampur. He said that about 500 tourists were still stranded and efforts were being made to evacuate them.
Pathania said that the machinery of PWD and Jaypee Company had been deployed for clearance of National Highway and other link roads in the district. He said that Border Road Organization had been asked to restore vehicular traffic as soon as possible on National Highway from Wangtoo to Samdho.
He said that preliminary loss of about Rs. 50 crore has been estimated to both government and private property and the final report of total losses would soon be firmed up. He said that the district administration had started toll-free helpline number 1077 for the convenience of tourists and relatives of stranded persons.
