Himachal Pradesh Rains: Over 1,500 tourists still stranded in Lahaul-Spiti district

More than 1,500 tourists are still stranded in snow-marooned Lahaul-Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh even as rescue operations are on a war footing. However, in a much-needed respite, the state witnessed a "dry weather" on Wednesday, according to reports.

Incessant rains triggered flash floods and landslides in hill states of northern India, with at least 11 people killed on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

On Tuesday, an official said around 300 people, including 45 IIT Roorkee students, stranded in various parts of Lahaul and Spiti district, were rescued.Following the snowfall, the Rohtang Pass and inner roads got blocked due to which about 300 people, including the students, who were on a trekking expedition, got stranded.

Himachal Pradesh: Pictures of snow-clad Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district pic.twitter.com/Ua0IKzefOi

— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2018

The administrative centre of Lahaul-Spiti, Keylong, received 55 cm and 35 cm snow on September 23 and September 24, respectively, it added.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured all assistance to Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. 

"Spoke to Himachal Pradesh CM @jairamthakurbjp Ji and Punjab CM @capt_amarinder Singh Ji regarding the flood situation in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab," Modi tweeted.

He said he has assured all possible support from the Centre in mitigating the situation arising due to heavy rains and floods in the two states. An official spokesperson of Himachal Pradesh government said in Shimla that Prime Minister Modi called Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to enquire about the situation in the state following the rains. Thakur apprised Modi that the state had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,250 crore due to heavy rains during the current monsoon.

"The prime minister assured the chief minister of all possible assistance by the Centre," the spokesperson.Thakur thanked the prime minister for providing three helicopters for rescuing stranded persons in far-flung areas of the state after snowfall and heavy rains, he added.