Shimla, August 9
Panic gripped people living along the 300-km-length of Sutlej from Kinnaur to Bilaspur as flash floods due to the overflowing of the lake formed in Tibet due to the blockage of Parchu, a tributary, appeared imminent.
While blockade of the tributary caused by a landslide survived the 24 hours warning given by the Chinese authorities, the latest message from Beijing was that it could happen anytime. That the flash floods were imminent also became evident from the fact that the Chinese authorities had started shifting people from low-lying villages across the Sumdoh border. Intelligence sources revealed that people of Gumar and Shatot were being moved to safer places with belongings.
In case there was no breach or overflow the Chinese experts who were at the site will attempt a “limited” blast to get the water released in a controlled way.
The government has to rely on the Chinese authorities as permission to the Indian team for inspecting the lake site had not been granted. It is learnt that Beijing has conveyed that it was also concerned about the safety of its own people and in a better position to deal with the problem.
The civil administration, the Indo Tibetan Border Police and Army remain on high alert. The Army is leaving nothing to chance and its formations, armed prepared for rescue and relief operations, have taken positions at strategic points along the Sutlej at Pooh, Sumdo, Karcham and Jhakri. They also carried out a mock drill to warn the people in the eventuality of flash floods and took seven minutes to complete the exercise.
The 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project was shut down and sealed to prevent damage.
However, up to evening there was no increase in the flow of Parchu. The discharge at Sumdoh was 35 Cumecs (cubic metre per second). The water was muddy which could be unrelated to the lake as there were six nullahs which join the river between the lake site and Lapcha, from where the river enters India.
An uneasy calm prevails on both sides of Sutlej as people wait anxiously for the impending disaster. They are re-living virtually the nightmare of August 2000 when the floods came without warning and caused unprecedented devastations. Having seen nature at its devastating best they are not taking any risk this time. About 4,000 people of 30 villages along the banks of the river in Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts have been shifted to safer places. The maximum number of 1,300 people has been shifted in Kinnaur district.
While Parchu continues to flow quietly, people are in for another tense night awaiting flash floods.
Meanwhile, the Crisis Management Group, which met under the chairmanship of Mr Shamsher Singh, Chief Secretary, this evening, assessed the situation. He stressed that there should be no let up in preparedness. The people were advised not to venture near the river at
night.
