Shimla: As the incessant rains in Himachal for more than 48 hours have wreaked havoc and thrown normal life out of gear, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is personally monitoring the situation and is continuously in touch with the district authorities, besides keeping a close eye on the rescue operations.
In the late evening on Sunday, the Chief Minister spoke to all the Deputy Commissioners, took stock of the situation regarding the damage caused, and gave the necessary instructions to provide immediate relief to the affected. Staying awake all night until 4 am, the Chief Minister kept monitoring the rescue operations to evacuate the stranded people safely.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also spoke to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on the phone on Sunday late in the evening and requested that he provide help to the people from Haryana who were stranded in different parts of the state and could not be contacted.
Sukhu assured him that he would personally look into the matter and get them out safely, besides giving necessary directions to local authorities in this regard.
The Chief Minister also kept a close watch on the rescue operation at district Mandi, where six people were stranded in Nagwain and were safely evacuated at two o’clock in the midnight. The Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the rescue team and district administration.
Sukhu also monitored the rescue operations of about 29 people trapped in Manali’s potato fields and about 200 tourists stranded near Chandertal Lake in Lahaul and Spiti districts.
With the efforts of the rescue team, these 29 people trapped in Manali were rescued on Monday.
The Chief Minister also directed the district administration to gear up to provide adequate food, medicines, and other essential items to the stranded tourists near Chandertal Lake and to ensure that the rescue operations could be conducted on time.
“I have directed the state administration to ensure all possible measures regarding the rescue of stranded people.
I am constantly in touch with the local authorities and the public representatives, personally monitoring the situation, and our government is with the people of the State in this hour of distress.
I appeal to the people to avoid travelling unnecessarily and avoid venturing out near the streams and rivers”, added Sukhu.
