Hundreds including 35 IIT students reported missing due to bad weather in Himachal
In many parts of northern India the devastation continued with heavy rains. There is a continuation of rains on the hills. Rescue is being done with ropes in Himachal’s Palampur. According to reports, 150 people are feared trapped in Lahaul-Spiti. In addition to the National Highway, 120 highways are in the grip of flash floods. 40 out of 150 people are trapped in Darcha, 50 in sarchu and 60 people are trapped in the Chandratal. Out of 60 people trapped in the Chandratala have 5 are reportedly IIT Mandi students. According to sources, 9 West Bengal researchers have also gone missing in Lahaul-Spiti. They came out to the gangstand glacier, but they are being told missing since then.
Telephone lines are not working because of heavy snowfall. However, the district administration says that all people are safe. 35 students of IIT Roorkee have gone also missing on the trekking in Lahaul Spiti, Himachal.
Rajvir Singh, father of one of the students, Ankit Bhati, said, “They had gone for trekking in Hamta in Kullu and they had to return to Manali but now the contact has broken.” Keelong SDM Amar Singh Negi told that a group of 8 people reported missing in Lahaul-Spiti is safe in the Koksar camp. Five people were killed in different incidents in Kullu, Kangra and Chamba districts due to torrential rains in Himachal Pradesh. Kullu district has been kept on high alert. Heavy rain warnings have been issued in Una, Hamirpur and Kullu in the state.
