Kinnaur has paid the price for its development. The tribal district known for its scenic beauty, faced the wrath of incessant rain and flash floods last week and now rescue operations are being hampered due to web of high tension wires emerging out of hydro power stations and choppers failing to land to rescue tourists at several high reach helipads.
Kinnaur district has nine helipads including at Karcham, Gabong, Pooh, Choling, Rookling, Rekong-Peo, Choltu, Sangla and at Nako. All these helipads are operated by Army, SSB, ITBP, Japypee Power and state government and at present only three helipads are being used mostly Pooh, Recking-Peo and Sangla.
With the window of clear weather nearing its closure and fog and mist started hovering over the mountainous tribal district reducing the visibility for landing at high altitude, district authorities are finding it tough to evacuate the ailing people.
“Several high tension wires are criss- crossing the district and when in mist or fog, it becomes difficult to land at high altitude helipads,” said an IAF chopper pilot refusing to be named but engaged in evacuation process.
Kinnaur has four commissioned hydro power projects including Nathpa- Jhakri project, Karsham-Wangtu, Baspa and Sanjay Vidyut projects while under construction projects include Shorang, Chiddang, Kashang and Shong Tong projects.
Eyewitnesses and environmentalists say the tragedy was waiting to happen in Kinnaur, as these power projects have not only spoilt the fragile ecology of the district which comprises mostly barren hills having loose soil.
“landslides have become a frequent phenomenon in Kinnaur since the hydro-projects have come to the districts. Concrete houses are being made at steep mountains slopes, high tension wires have been stretched over the head like a web of iron net, trees have been cut, natural flow of rivers is being stopped,” said Bhagat Singh Negi a social worker of Kinnaur.
Two IAF choppers are engaged in rescue an evacuation process while one IAF chopper and other state chopper was stranded at Shimla due to bad weather. Till now over 1000 people, including several foreigners, have been rescued from different locations of the district. On Monday, over 100 people were evacuated.
On other hand, choppers are not being able to make the polling parties reach the high altitude polling booths due to fog and high tension wires. Over 30 polling booths are such, which are still not accessible and election commission is facing tough task to make the polling parties and their materials reach those booths before June 27, the day of polling for the Mandi lok Sabha by-poll in Kinnaaur district.