10 days on, power eludes villages in Mandi, Kullu

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 19

Several villages of Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts have been reeling under darkness for the past 10 days after heavy snowfall.

The HP State Electricity Board has repaired a majority of transformers but power lines to the villages are still damaged hampering power supply.

In Mandi district, a few villages of the Seraj valley have been reeling under darkness since January 8. The road leading to Chhatri could not be restored. Dozens of link roads are still blocked. According to Thunag SDM Surender Mohan, the villages in the valley are not getting power supply because the heavy snowfall had made a considerable damage to cables.

The SDM stated that restoration work was on full swing and soon power supply would be restored.

In Kullu district, villages in Sainj and Banjar are without power. Locals said the life was thrown out of gear in Shainshar, Garaparli, Shanghar and Deoridhar villages.

Hari Ram Chaudhary of the Sainj valley said the authorities concerned should speed up restoration work to ensure power supply to these villages. The most sufferer were students, who were preparing for their exams.

Similarly, in the Tirthan valley, residents were waiting desperately for the restoration of power supply.

Kullu DC Richa Verma directed officials of the Public Works Department, HP State Electricity Board and Irrigation and Public Health Department to ensure speedy restoration of roads, water and power supply for the convenience of the common man.

In Lahaul Spiti, several villages in Miyar valley are the worst affected. All roads were blocked.