Page 34 - Himachal Pradesh

Jai Ram Thakur meets HM Amit Shah, discusses flood situation in state

A total of 88 people have lost their lives in the state since June 24 as rain continues to hit Himachal, an official statement issued by Himachal Pradesh state disaster management authority said

HP guv takes stock of water supply in Shimla; MHA released Rs 180 cr in aid

Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday took stock of the acute water shortage in Shimla, stemming from days of heavy rainfall that damaged the supply schemes and caused silt to accumulate in the sources. In a statement, Shukla said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has released the first instalment of Rs 180 crore to Himachal Pradesh as immediate relief. Shukla has also sent a detailed report on the damages to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the statement said. The governor enquired about the arrangements to supply water and its status from the officials concerned. He also issued directions to Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi to resume supply and provide relief to the people affected by the disaster in the district. Shukla also exhorted the officials to expedite the relief work. "Water supply to the city is being ensured from the Gumma pumping station supply is not being done from the Giri water source due to heavy silt," Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited Manag

Himachal minister reaches Chandertal to aid rescue of 290 stranded tourists

Himachal Pradesh minister Jagat Singh Negi and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sanjay Avasthi on Thursday reached Chandertal in Lahaul and Spiti district to evacuate 290 people, mostly tourists. About 300 people, mostly tourists, have been stranded in Chandertal since Saturday and seven sick people, including two elderly and a girl, were airlifted to Bhunter on Tuesday. "Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi reached Chandertal around 2 am Thursday. The first batch of the stranded tourists started from Chandertal around 8 am and reached Kunzum pass. They are expected to reach Losar after 10:30 am," Deputy Commissioner Lahaul and Spiti, Rahul Kunar told PTI. "Food and medical supplies will be provided to the tourists at Losar before taking them to Kaza," he said, adding that the SP is supervising the rescue operation. Officials said Negi reached Chandertal after almost 18 hours as the road rescue teams struggled to clear the route, covered under three to four feet of snow, through Kunzum p

More than 50,000 tourists evacuated in Himachal: CM Sukhvinder Sukhu

Meanwhile, IPS Satwant Atwal took to her Twitter handle on Wednesday to say that 6 Israeli tourists had been transferred safely to the town of Manikaran, while another 37 were safe and in good health

SGPC supplies essentials, food from langar to affected people in Himachal

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is helping people affected by floods by organising langars and providing necessary items through gurdwaras in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, an official said on Wednesday. SGPC secretary Partap Singh also said food from langars and help is also being provided to people stranded at stations, including here, after train movement was affected due to floods, and to those whose house were damaged. The SGPC secretary said medical teams in three ambulances from the Sri Guru Ramdas Charitable Hospital, Vallah, are also providing health services in different areas in Punjab. He said that due to the floods, many devotees who went for paying obeisance at different the gurdwaras in Himachal Pradesh are stuck, and the SGPC is also working to help them.

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Evacuation of stranded tourists from Chandertal a herculean task: CM Sukhu

Although the evacuation efforts and road opening work have gained pace, thousands of tourists are still stuck at various places in rain-battered Himachal Pradesh, according to reports. With over 850 roads still blocked, a large number of tourists have extended their stay in accommodations where they are residing or waiting for the situation to get better. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday called the evacuation of stranded tourists from Chandertal in Lahaul and Spiti a "challenging task". "We have sent a minister and Chief Parliament Secretary Sanjay Avasthi to Chandertal to take stock of the situation," he said after taking an aerial survey of Losar and Chandertal areas. He said state minister Jagat Singh Negi from Tribal Kinnaur district, who is acquainted with the harsh topography and tribal calamities, along with Avasthi will assist the rescue efforts in Chandertal. "They would reach Chandertal by Wednesday night," Sukhu added. About 300 people, mostly tourists

Water released from Himachal has reduced, will impact Yamuna: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat has informed him that the volume of water being released to Haryana from Himachal Pradesh has reduced, which in turn will impact the water level in the Yamuna. However, he said it will take some time for the water level in the river to recede. The Yamuna in Delhi swelled to 207.71 metres at 4 pm on Wednesday, breaching its all-time record of 207.49 metres set in 1978, flooding several areas and prompting Kejriwal to call an emergency meeting on the situation. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kejriwal requested that "if possible, the water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana be released in limited speed" and pointed out that Delhi is set to host the G20 Summit meeting in a few weeks. "Following my letter, I got a call from Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who said that Hathnikund is just a barrage and there is no reservoir to store water and limit the water speed. The wat

2,000 tourists stranded in Kasol evacuated, says Himachal CM Sukhu

As many as 2,000 tourists stranded in Kasol area of Kullu district owing to incessant rainfall have been evacuated safely, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday. The KulluManali road was opened Tuesday evening and about 2,200 vehicles crossed Kullu. There was no mobile signal in several areas in Manali and its suburbs for the past two days and the tourists were unable to contact their families, officials said. The Kullu-Manali road was opened on the left bank of Manali, while the road on its south was washed away, a local resident said, adding that a majority of the tourists have left the place. "Over 2,000 stranded individuals in Kasol have been successfully evacuated as of now. Our teams are working tirelessly to clear the Dunkhara landslide on the Kasol-Bhuntar road. District administration is on-site coordinating relief efforts. 2200+ vehicles have safely passed through Kullu, receiving food support at Ramshilla Chowk. I personally oversee the

Incessant rain, flash floods, landslides ravage Himachal Pradesh's Manali

Himachal Pradesh Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the flash floods have damaged the national highway and disrupted water and electricity supply

Monsoon fury in Himachal persists, 15 Russian tourists stranded in Kasol

Acting DGP of Himachal Pradesh, Satwant Atwal Trivedi, on Tuesday said that 15 Russian tourists were reportedly stranded in Kasol, and Police are trying to establish contact with them.

Situation has improved: Himachal CM after visiting flood-hit areas of Kullu

Earlier in the day, Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas and said the government is working hard to restore road transport and power supply

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Tankers pressed into service in Shimla as water supply remains disrupted

Water supply to several parts of the city remained disrupted for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday as heavy silt following incessant rains affected pumping of water. Water is being supplied through tankers to the residents and ten tankers have been pressed into service, Mayor of the Corporation Surender Chauhan said. Shimla received 6.58 mld (million litre per day) of water on Tuesday against the average 42-45 mld as no pumping was done from the Giri water source, according to the Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL) officials. Giri and Gumma are the two major sources of water, supplying an average 15 mld each but only 2.23 mld was supplied from Gumma as Chaba pumping station is damaged, Nautikhad is flooded and only one pump is working at the Gumma station. The other four sources from where water is supplied to Shimla, including Churot, Seog, Chairh and Koti Brandi contributed 4.35 mld. A maximum of 606 out of the total 1,418 water schemes affected by rains were in Shi

IAF chopper requisitioned to airlift tourists stranded at Chandertal in HP

A helicopter from the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been requisitioned to airlift the tourists stranded at Chandertal in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh while a rescue team from Kaza has reached Kunzum Top and is just eight kilometres away from the lake, Principal Secretary, Revenue, Onkar Chand Sharma said on Tuesday. Around 300 people, mostly tourists, are stuck in camps at Chandertal, located at an altitude of 14,100 feet, following rain and snowfall in the region. "Two of them were facing breathing issues due to the high altitude and they would be airlifted," Sharma said. All the stranded people would be evacuated to safe places by Tuesday night, he said, adding that about 100 people were rescued from different places in the hill state on Monday. Two teams have been deputed for road restoration -- one from the Losar side and the other from Kaza. The team comprises members of the administration, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), polic

IMD issues fresh Red, Orange alerts in Himachal Pradesh for next 24 hours

A red alert has been issued for very heavy rainfall in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, and Lahaul for the next 24 hours, IMD said

Himachal's Kangra suffers losses worth Rs 75 cr amid incessant rains

Incessant rains over the past four days have damaged public facilities worth around Rs 75 crore in Kangra, District Collector Nipun Jindal said on Monday. Earlier in the day, the deputy commissioner apprised Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu of the current situation in the district during a video conference meeting. Addressing reporters here after the meeting, Jindal said owing to torrential rains from July 6 to July 9, the district suffered losses of Rs 75 crore, of which the Public Works Department (PWD) incurred a loss of about Rs 31 crore. A total of 66 roads maintained by the PWD were damaged or blocked due to landslides or tree felling, out of which 63 roads have been restored. In addition, 14 more roads in the district got blocked on Monday, Jindal added. He said if the weather remains favourable, all these blocked roads would be restored in the next 24 to 48 hours. The Jal Shakti department incurred losses of around Rs 40 crore as the heavy monsoon rai

SJVN CMD reviews hydro projects in Himachal, Uttarakhand amid deluge

SJVN CMD Nand Lal Sharma on Monday reviewed the company's hydro projects in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which have been battered by heavy rainfall, causing widespread damage. "The chairman and managing director (CMD) held meetings through video conference to review the preparations at 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station & 412 Rampur Hydro Power Station for ensuring the safety of men and material," SJVN said in a statement. Sharma also reviewed the status of under-construction 210 MW Luhri Stage-I Hydroelectric Project (HEP), 382 MW Sunni Dam HEP, 66 MW Dhaulasidh HEP in Himachal Pradesh, and 60 MW Naitwar Mori HEP in Uttarakhand, it said. The water level of rivers on which these projects are located has increased manifold, the company said. "Our priority is to ensure the safety of the people. I have directed the head of projects to constitute high-level committees to closely monitor the situation in the areas around the projects. The officials concerned are to take ...

PM Modi assures full support to Himachal govt battling flood crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and assured "unwavering support" to his government as heavy rainfall caused widespread damage across the state. The prime minister inquired about the extent of the damage caused to life and property due to heavy rains and floods, an official statement issued here said.

Heavy rains: Landslides claim 4 more lives, 200 stranded in worst-hit HP

With raging waters washing away cars and roads, submerging fields and gushing into residential areas, it was another day of rain havoc in parts of north India, particularly Himachal Pradesh where landslides claimed four more lives and more than 200 people remain stranded. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with senior ministers and officials to take stock of the situation. Several rivers, including the Yamuna in Delhi, in north India are in spate. In cities and towns across the region, many roads and residential areas were submerged in knee-deep water with the civic system unable to hold on in the face of record rains on Sunday. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday asked the Centre to make available additional relief from the PM CARES Fund for states affected by the torrential rain. The prime minister spoke with senior ministers and officials and took stock of the situation in the wake of excessive rainfall in parts of the country, his office said. Local administrations, ...