Reckong Peo, August 6
The water level in the Pareechu rivulet rose by over 8 ft this evening. An alert was sounded by the district administration of Kinnaur to all those living in the low-lying areas along the Sutlej to shift to safer places.
Confirming this, Dr Aman Deep Garg, District Magistrate of Kinnaur, said he had put the communication system and police on alert. Messages had also been sent to the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) to remain alert to meet any situation, he said.
The DM appealed to the people not to panic as this rise in the Pareechu rivulet might be due to the heavy rain in the cold desert of Spiti and beyond the border in Tibet. However, there were no reports of any breach in the Pareechu lake (Tibet).
Dr Garg also claimed that the rise in the Pareechu rivulet water level might not have much affect on the water level of the Sutlej. He said the water level in the Sutlej could rise by just over one foot, which at this stage could not be turned as an alarming situation.
Meanwhile, Col ML Kom, Officer Commanding of GREF, told The Tribune that he had also sounded an alert to all his men. Special teams had been constituted for night patrolling along the Sutlej.
Sirens had also been placed in the low-line areas to alert the local people and travellers in case of any emergency. When the news report was last written, the water level in the Sutlej at Pouuari, the base camp of GREF, was just over 11 ft, which was further likely to rise during the night.
