Over 200 families need immediate rehabilitation Kuldeep Chauhan Tribune News Service Mandi/Reckong Peo, June 21 More than 200 families in rain-ravaged seven villages in Kinnaur who have taken shelter in caves, schools and panchayat buildings need immediate rehabilitation as the villages have become unsafe. The fate of 12 shepherds and 12 members of the rescue team from Ropa is not known for the last five days. Relief operations have not reached Pooh subdivision, which has been cut off for seven days. “Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Airtel have not activated networks while water and electricity supply has yet to be restored,” said Panun Negi, a local resident. The Public Works Deprtment did not have machinery on standby to restore link roads. Ninety per cent apple orchards had been affected in Pooh subdivision which was under two feet of snow, said residents. Over 1,000 labourers stranded in Pooh and Moorang had started their journey to Reckong Peo in search of food, shelter and employment. An aerial recce by a team led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today reestablished its link with the people, living without electricity, communication and road connectivity since Saturday. Only tourists were being evacuated in relief operations carried out in Air Force helicopters and a state chopper. Food and shelter had not reached rain-ravaged villagers in Kinnaur, said residents. More than 200 houses had become unsafe, said Jagat Negi, Kinnaur legislator and Deputy Speaker, who was monitoring relief operations at Reckong Peo. Residents said 75 families from Pangi, 50 from Yanpa, 40 from Brua, 31 from Talangi, 20 from Sudhong, 20 each from Sapni and Sangla, 15 each from Powari and Barang and 10 each from Kopa and Rogi needed immediate help. Negi said they had apprised the Chief Minister of the situation. “The Border Roads Organisation has not moved machinery to capacity and we have hired JCBs and bulldozers,” he said. Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner JM Pathania said rescue and rehabilitation measures had picked up as rescue parties reached the victims on foot.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 09:55:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015