M A I N   N E W S

Rain, terrain hamper rescue work
Subhash Sharma

The injured persons Ashok Kumar, Bhim Bahadur, Hans Raj, Bimla, Meena, Veeru, Amar and Ram Murat, whom this correspondent met at the zonal hospital today, confirmed that there were more than 250 persons living in the temporary hutments at the site of the flash flood. They feared that the death toll would be much more. On the other hand the district administration stuck to the figure of 30 to 35 killed.

The entire market of Kulu town remained closed as a mark of respect to those killed in the flash floods.

Of the four persons from Jammu and Kashmir reported missing yesterday, two bodies have been identified. Hans Raj told this correspondent today that their company ( Satyam Group) is arranging to send the bodies of Munshi Ram and Bodh Raj to their respective village in the Kishtwar area of Jammu.

Mr Vijay Anand, Executive Engineer, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, said heavy losses were estimated to electricity lines. More than 3 km of the main line had been washed away. Restoration of electricity supplies to the Manihar area would take at least one month.

Rakesh Lohumi adds from Shimla: Extensive damage caused to roads and bridges in the cloudburst is likely to affect the pace of work on the second stage of the 2051 Parbati project. According to engineers of the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) the sites, where work on Adit-I, Adit-II and Adit-III of the head race tunnel is in progress, have been cut off due to washing away of bridges on a large portion of the approach road. It could take about one to two weeks to restore the road link. Besides, some machinery like compressor and tractors have also been washed away. These Adits will be used for carrying the tunnel-boring machine. The loss has been put at over Rs 1 crore. Mr M.M. Madan, the general manager, accompanied by the Chief Engineer and other officers, today visited the site of the disaster to assess the loss.

Five seriously injured persons have been shifted to the Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital, here. They include Dharender, who has a head injury, Ram Murti, Jaikrishan, Gopal and his eight-year-old son, Suresh. The child also has a deep injury in the head.

Meanwhile, the government today released Rs 50 lakh for providing relief to the victims and carrying out restoration work. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said search and rescue operations were being carried out along the 7 km stretch of the Pulliah Nallah affected by the flash floods. He said in all 550 police personnel, including 450 of the ITBP, were involved in the operation. Besides providing medical aid to the inured, relief material like blankets, tents and food packets had been sent. The Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of police of Mandi division were overseeing the operations.

The President, Dr A.P.J Kalam, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other national leaders have expressed sorrow over the huge loss of life and property and expressed sympathies with the victims.

Kalam grieved over Kulu deaths
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 17
The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has expressed grief over loss of lives in flash floods in Sheelgarh village in Kulu district in Himachal Pradesh.

In a message to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the President has said, “I have heard about the unfortunate cloud burst which occurred in Kulu district of Himachal Pradesh today in which a number of people were killed and many others were injured. I understand that many of those who died were working on a hydropower project.

Dr Kalam has also conveyed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.