Himachal Pradesh Rains: 50 IIT-Roorkie students rescued, six trekkers missing, over 500 remain stranded

About 50 IIT-Roorkie students on a trek in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul valley were rescued by Indian Air Force helicopters, while more than 500 people remain stranded in other areas in Lahaul and Spiti district. However, a team of six trekkers from New Delhi and Himachal Pradesh is missing in Kinnaur district, officials said.

So far, heavy rains and snowfall in Lahaul and Spiti have claimed 10 lives, with four more deaths being reported on Tuesday in the northern state.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told reporters the state had suffered losses totalling Rs 1,200 crore after three days of rains, beginning Saturday.

The incessant rains had triggered flash floods and landslides in the hill states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, killing at least 11 people on Monday. There were rains also in Punjab and Uttarakhand.

No fresh casualties were reported in the other states on Tuesday. But in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district, two labourers died when a rock fell on their home.

Also Read | Manmohan Singh says armed forces must remain 'uncontaminated' from sectarian appeal

Also, two people were killed when a car skidded off a slippery road in the state's Kinnaur district.

There were only scattered showers in the state on Tuesday and the Met department predicted that the weather will hold on Wednesday as well.

But several roads, including portions of the Chandigarh-Manali route, remained blocked due to landslides and snowfall.

Apart from the rescue of the entire group of trekkers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee, the IAF also rescued a German couple trapped in a blizzard while trekking from Ringdum to Dibling near Lahaul-Spiti.

Also Read | Millenial women lead in online search for properties, men ahead in buying decisions

The IAF has sent three helicopters to Himachal Pradesh, and the Centre has assured more choppers if needed, the chief minister said.

They are being deployed to rescue over 500 people still stranded in Lahaul-Spiti. About 300 of them were trapped in Baralacha area and the remaining 200 in Koksar, an official said.

There are reports of others caught between landslides on the roads.

Schools were closed for the second consecutive day on Tuesday in Kangra, Kullu and Hamirpur districts, officials said.

The plan to release excess water from the Pong dam on Beas river in Kangra district was deferred till Wednesday morning, providing relief to the residents of low-lying areas in the state and neighbouring Punjab.

However, excess water from the Pandoh dam in Mandi district was released at 11 am on Tuesday, a Central Water Commission official said.

The plan to release water from the Pong dam was put off because of reduced inflow and the forecast of subdued rain in the catchment area, a Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) official said.

The Lahaul-Spiti district witnessed about four feet of snowfall up to Monday. As a result Rohtang Pass and several inner roads were blocked.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has cleared a 6-km stretch of Keylong-Stingri road and work is on to clear other roads of debris from landslides.

Apart of truckers and tourists, several personnel of General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) were also reportedly stranded at various places, an official said.

(With PTI inputs)