S Gopal Puri
Chamba:
Amid mounting criticism and confusion over the management of the Manimahesh Yatra, a video message from Chamba Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mukesh Repaswal surfaced online on Friday. It is perhaps the first such official statement to emerge from the district administration since the annual pilgrimage began.
According to officials, the DC has been in Bharmour since Thursday to oversee rescue operations, and the video appears to have been recorded in advance.
The statement sought to address concerns over registration, the number of stranded pilgrims, and ongoing relief efforts.
Authorities continue to grapple with fluctuating estimates of devotees stranded across the region, with figures ranging from 8,000 to 10,000. “It is believed that there are people at Hadsar, Kugti, Bharmour, Lahal, and Khadamukh. Everything is packed in these places,” Mukesh Repaswal said in the video.
District records confirm that 11 deaths have occurred during the Yatra so far. However, recovery operations remain incomplete, with three bodies still unrecovered due to challenging terrain. “Efforts are on,” the DC added.
Rakshpal also dismissed rumours circulating on social media about cloudbursts and large-scale casualties, urging the public not to spread unverified information.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena told reporters that nearly 3,000 pilgrims stranded in Bharmour are in the process of being evacuated. He added that around 10,000 people remain stuck in Chamba due to landslides on the Chamba–Bharmour route between Bagga and Durgathi.
The state government has said authorities are prepared to airlift essential supplies if road access worsens. Pilgrims have been advised to return home once safe passage becomes available.
While road blockages and weather-related uncertainties persist, the DC’s video marks the first such official communication from the district administration since the tragedy unfolded—offering clarity on a situation that continues to evolve.
