M A I N   N E W S

Flashfloods damage Manali-Leh highway
Army transit camp inundated
From Our Correspondent

MANALI, Aug 29 — Hundreds of civilian and army vehicles were stranded on the Manali-Leh highway, 4 km from here, at Bahang near the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) this morning. A house and at least five khokas near the SASE guest house were washed away. Fifty metre stretch of the Manali-Leh highway was completely damaged last night due to flashfloods originating from Pagal and Seri nullahs near Beas Kund.

The 217 Army Transit Camp at Palchan, 9 km from here, on Manali-Leh highway also witnessed the fury of these floods as the flood protection wall along the camp boundary was completely destroyed. This resulted in the flood waters entering the camp grounds leaving behind huge deposits of silt, sand and mud. Large boulders were also strewn all over the area.

According to Col Bachiter Singh, Officer-in-Charge of the transit camp, “at midnight suddenly the waters in these nullahs began rising and the loud crash of giant boulders could be heard rolling along the river bed. Hearing this the officers and jawans rushed out of their barracks and moved to safer places.” However, there has been no loss of human lives.

When this correspondent visited the camp site the water was still flowing through the camp and six barracks were completely filled with silt and mud and were waterlogged. “Only last night about 15 officers and 515 jawans had been sleeping in these quarters”, Col Bachiter Singh said. The convoy ground had also been damaged. When the flood waters entered the camp area about 100 army vehicles loaded with army supplies en route Leh were parked there. However, these vehicles were driven up to higher areas immediately.

He further stated that he had immediately informed the SDM, Manali and the district administration at Kulu about the flood situation. The SDM immediately rushed to the site and began the rescue and safety operations.

In the transit camp all belongings of army jawans still lie under a layer of silt and mud. According to the Officer-in-Charge, if a protection wall was not built immediately the water would damage the entire camp. The electricity and water supply has also been affected. The army bridge connecting the camp to the Manali-Leh highway has also been partially damaged.

Mr S.S. Porwal, Commander, 38 BRTF (GREF), reached here from Kinnaur-Kaza, Hindustan Tibet Road, this morning and immediately started repair work.

Meanwhile, all vehicles are being diverted through the SASE complex which has a road connecting the Manali-Leh highway.