More than 150 people were stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district due to a flash flood, the state disaster management department said on Monday, reports PTI. According to a Hindustan Times report, 105 people, mostly tourists were rescued on Sunday.
Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in the area which caused water levels to rise in Dorni rivulet. Boulders damaged a parked vehicle. The tourists were mostly taken to Koshar, as per officials.
More than 150 people were stranded near Chatru and Dorni Morh as Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphoo (SKG) road in Lahaul sub division is blocked due to a flash flood that occurred at Dorni nullah around at 11.15 pm on Sunday, the DEOC said.
As per the Hindustan Times report, police superintendent, Manav Verma said, “All the stranded persons were rescued by around 1: 30am... All of them are safe." He also assured that they have been provided sufficient food and logistics.
Officials said flash flooding disrupted traffic along National Highway 505, which connects Sissu to Nako, and prompted authorities to launch a joint three-hour rescue operation. According to the Lahaul-Spiti District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC), a rescue team comprising administration, police and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel has rushed were involved in the operation.
Officials said BRO pressed three trucks into service for the rescue even as flash floods were reported from four places in the Lahulal and Spiti district, and blocked nine roads.
State minister Ram Lal Markanda was stranded in the Miyar valley after the road connectivity was snapped due to flash flooding.