100 tourists stuck in Sangla to be evacuated soon: CM
Geological Survey of India team to investigate landslide
Shimla | TNR
Bodies of eight tourists, among the nine, who were killed on Sunday in a landslide at Batseri village in Sangla district of Himachal Pradesh, were sent to Himachal Bhawan in New Delhi on Monday following post mortem.
Kinnaur-Sangla road blocked
Rocks had come plummeting down on people, cars, houses and orchards on Sunday. The Kinnaur-Sangla road is blocked for vehicular traffic even as attempts were being made to evacuate nearly 100 tourists stuck in the area. Media persons were informed about this by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here on Monday. The road would be opened for vehicular traffic as soon as Public Works Department personnel give the green signal.
Bodies to be handed over in Delhi to the kin
The CM said that the bodies sent to the Himachal Bhawan in Delhi would be handed over to the kin by the resident commissioner there. The body of one of the victims, Amogh Bapat, a lieutenant in the Indian Navy, was handed over to defence personnel concerned from Kadchan base. Three tourists injured in the landslide were discharged from the hospital on Monday.
Team of experts to investigate landslide
Kinnar deputy commissioner Abid Hussain informed that a team of geologists from the Geological Survey of India would investigate the reasons for the deadly landslide and dislodging of rocks. The team is likely to reach Batseri by Tuesday, he added.
CM cautions tourists
The CM cautioned tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh to avoid areas that have rivers and rivulets and are landslide prone in view of the warning issued by the meteorological department, Shimla. An orange alert has been issued as heavy rainfall is expected for the next four days and a red alert has been issued for July 27 and July 28.
3 national highways, 220 roads blocked
Vehicular traffic has been suspended on three national highways and 220 roads in the state following heavy rainfall since Sunday. Plying of buses was impacted on more than 150 routes. The supply of apples to various mandis was disrupted due to road blockages. The government has said that property worth over Rs 410 crore has been destroyed due to calamities this rainy season. PWD has estimated a loss of Rs 272 crore, hydel power department has estimated a loss of Rs 115 crore and electricity board has estimated a loss of Rs 29 crore.
Death toll reaches 190
State Disaster Management Authority has said that so far the calamities in the state have claimed 190 human lives and 381 animals. Twenty-one were killed due to landslides, 19 drowned, two were killed in fire incidents, seven were bitten by snakes, three were electrocuted, four fell to their deaths from a height and 33 were killed in various other accidents and incidents.
