Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday reviewed preparedness to tackle various emergency situations arising due to heavy rain in the state with the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all the districts through video conferencing from Shimla.
He directed the officers to make foolproof arrangements for disaster management arising due to heavy rains and said that adequate number of people and machinery should be deployed in the vulnerable areas that are prone to landslides and other types of disasters. He directed to take appropriate steps in view of security at the camping sites situated on the banks of rivers in the state, adding that strict action would be taken against the erring officers involved in laxity in work related to disaster management.
Thakur also directed to ensure availability of Quick Reaction Team and Emergency Operation Centres functional round the clock at the district and sub-division level for disaster management, adding that roads affected due to landslides or heavy rains should be repaired immediately. He directed the officials to encourage the tourists to take precautions while visiting the disaster prone areas, so that the tourists do not face any inconvenience and their safety can be ensured.
The CM also directed the Deputy Commissioners to complete all the preparations in a time bound manner keeping in view of the apple season in the state, adding that time bound steps should be taken to maintain smooth traffic movement so that the orchardists do not face any inconvenience.
FIVE KILLED, FIVE MISSING IN FLASH FLOODS, LANDSLIDES IN HP
Five people were killed and five others went missing in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu and Shimla on Wednesday, officials said. Several roads, including the Ferozepur-Shipki La National Highway-5 at Jhakri in Shimla district, remained blocked. Power and water supply was also hit in several areas. The Kullu administration has banned water sports and camping near rivers. According to the officials, three people were confirmed dead in Kullu. Five people who went missing are also feared dead. Over 25 employees working at the Malana power project there were rescued from a building that was damaged by flash floods.
A landslide on the outskirts of Shimla city killed a 14-year-old girl while two others were critically injured. A man drowned in a water body in the district. The Shimla District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) said the landslide that killed the girl occurred at Dhalli. She and the two others persons were buried under the debris and it took several minutes to rescue them. They were sent to the IGMC hospital where the girl was declared brought dead. In Kullu, at least five people were washed away and the bridge across Parvati River damaged in flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Manikaran, the officials said.
State Disaster Management Director Sudesh Mokhta said at least five people went missing after the cloudburst at Chojh village in Challal panchayat of Kullu around 6 am. In yet another incident in Kullu, two people were injured following a landslide at Salot in Nirmand tehsil. They were referred to the Nirmand zonal hospital. Officials said efforts are on to trace those who went missing. The floodgates of Larje and Pandoh dams are being opened and people living in downstream areas have been put on a high alert.