Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the disaster review meeting of five districts, Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul Spiti, Kangra and Mandi, through a video conference from New Delhi on Friday.
He discussed at length the present situation with the Divisional Commissioner, Kangra, stationed at Chamba, besides with the Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, and the Superintendent of Police, who both are stationed at Bharmour.
The Chief Minister sought information about the stranded Manimahesh Yatris, the losses incurred due to flash floods and heavy rains, besides the status of relief and restoration works being carried out.
It was apprised that all the stranded devotees were safe and secure and were being well attended, and proper arrangements of food, shelter, first aid etc. had been made for them.
The Chief Minister directed to restore the communication services in other parts of the district, particularly in Bharmour, so that the people stuck there could connect to their near and dear ones.
In addition, directions were issued to make arrangements for the safe return of the devotees back to their homes who were sheltered in large numbers in Chamba Chaugan. It was also informed in the meeting that Jio, Airtel and BSNL services had been restored in Chamba town. It was also informed in the meeting that the 25 km road towards Bharmour from Chamba had been opened.
The Chief Minister directed the officers of the district administration of Chamba and Bharmour to accord utmost priority to evacuating the Manimahesh Yatris, especially the women and the children. Directions were issued to airlift the ill and elderly. He directed to provide basic amenities besides providing food, shelter, first aid etc. to those stranded, and issued directions to facilitate them so that they could safely reach their destination.
Besides, he also directed to airdrop food at places not easily accessible and where devotees were stranded. He asked to acquire proper stock of ration, vegetables etc. and to press Air Force helicopters in service, and to assign responsibility to officers to ensure patch-wise restoration of roads, which were either washed away or blocked due to landslides. He asked to rope in additional manpower and machinery to clear the roads and stressed swift restoration of roads and restoration of water and electricity schemes.
The Chief Minister was also apprised about the status of roads blocked, disrupted electricity, irrigation and drinking water schemes, and about the communication services in the affected districts.
Sukhu directed the Deputy Commissioners of Mandi and Kullu to ensure smooth vehicular movement through other alternate routes and added that drinking water schemes and electricity should be restored at the earliest besides opening the blocked roads. Inquiring about the situation of Bara-Bhangal in Kangra district, the Chief Minister directed to airdrop food grains and other essentials for the people there. He also asked to carry out a speedy assessment of the land that had been washed away in the floods.
He also took stock of restoration works at Indora, Fatehpur and Pong dam. It was informed in the meeting that the water level in Pong dam had decreased and people were relocated safely from areas submerged.
Sukhu directed the Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul & Spiti, to make efforts to evacuate all the tourists by today evening. It was informed later by DC Lahaul-Spiti that around 380 tourists who were stranded in Sissu had been evacuated safely today. The Chief Minister asked to ensure evacuation of tourists through safe alternate routes. The Deputy Commissioner informed that Jio and Airtel services had been restored and further efforts were on for restoration of other networks. It was also informed that the power supply had been restored at many places and generation had been started in Thirot electricity sub-station.
He asked the Chief Secretary to coordinate with the district administration for proper execution of the same.
It was also informed in the meeting that the Pathankot-Chamba road had been opened for all types of vehicles and small vehicles were plying via Kamand-Katola road towards Kullu. However, the Chief Minister directed that the district administration should ensure that this alternate route should be restricted to small vehicles and the heavy vehicles should be stopped at Mandi till the roads are cleared. It was also informed that as of now, the Kullu-Mandi NH-03 had been opened for small vehicles. As per reports, all the major roads in Mandi had been opened except that of Mandi-Sarkaghat via Basahi/Dharampur.
Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena apprised the Chief Minister that he was monitoring the situation on a daily basis and was taking appropriate steps to provide relief to the affected persons. Besides, Divisional Commissioner and DIG Kangra have been stationed at Chamba.
Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and officers of the five districts attended the meeting virtually.
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