Over 8,000 left Kullu-Manali region: Acting DGP Atwal

Over 8,000 people have left the Kullu-Manali region in the past three days with the reopening of road networks after torrential rains battered Himachal Pradesh this week, officials said on Friday.

Still many people have been stranded in the picturesque Manikaran, including a large number of Israeli, who refused to leave the place without their vehicles.

Acting Director General of Police Satwant Atwal in an appeal asked them to move to their destinations. “Some persons staying in Manikaran, etc., want to drive back with their own vehicles.

This is the reason for delay in their exit,” she tweeted.

According to her, 3,665 vehicles crossed Ramshila in Kullu from July 11 at 2 p.m. till July 14 at 6 am.

A total of 8,306 persons have left. The mobile connectivity in the Parvati Valley up to Sumaropa, 4-5 km before Kasol, is restored, said the police.

However, the road connectivity between Kasol and Manikaran is expected to be restored by Saturday.

“Everyone is safe in the valley in places like Pulga, Tulga, Rashol and Tosh,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Kullu.

Thanking the state police and the Kullu administration, Rashika Gupta tweeted, “Thank you for the constant Tweets and information. Finally in touch with my parents as they head to Mandi from Bhuntar.”

Her elderly parents were stuck in Tosh area.

Replying to her, DGP Atwal tweeted, “We are happy for you #Devbhoomi_cares.”

On Thursday night, the administration and the police team in Chamba rescued four more people who had come from outside states for the Manimahesh pilgrimage. They took them to safe places.

“Along with this, all passengers who have come to Manimahesh have been given access to safe places,” he said.

In an advisory, police stated that the Baddi barrier bridge, the crucial one linking the industrial town with Haryana and Chandigarh, has been reopened for light vehicles.

Asking stranded tourists to leave vehicles behind in disaster-hit areas and move to their destinations, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu said 60,000 people have been evacuated from across the state by Thursday.

He said rehabilitation of affected locals and restoration of roads and communication networks in worst-affected flood-hit areas of Kullu and Lahaul Spiti districts were underway on a war footing.

The Chief Minister said efforts are underway to evacuate the remaining 10,000 individuals, who are currently putting up at Kasol and Tirthan Valley and were reluctant to leave their vehicles behind.

To alleviate their concerns, Sukhu assured them that their vehicles would be safeguarded.