BRO rescues 87 from Baralacha

Abhinav Vashisht
KULLU, APRIL 22

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has rescued the remaining 87 commuters, including two women and three children, who had been stuck near the Baralacha Pass since Tuesday. As many as 32 trucks, two tempos and four small vehicles were stranded near Baralacha on April 20 due to snowfall.

Power network hit

• The police and the district administration rescued 147 persons by the night of April 20
• Further attempts were unsuccessful due to poor visibility owing to the heavy snowfall
• All 234 persons were brought to Jispa and were provided first aid, food and lodging
• The Lahaul valley was reeling under darkness as the power lines were damaged
• There were reports of damage to greenhouses & rootstocks

Lahaul and Spiti DC Pankaj Rai said the rescue operation began immediately and a joint team consisting of personnel from the BRO, the police and the district administration rescued 147 persons by the night of April 20. However, further attempts by rescue teams were unsuccessful due to poor visibility owing to the heavy snowfall.

The DC said the rescue operation was later resumed by the BRO in the morning yesterday and after two failed attempts, the rescue party could finally make a breakthrough at 4 pm. He said the remaining 87 persons were rescued on the wee hours today. Around 10 truck drivers decided to stay with their vehicles and did not return with the rescue team.

He said all 234 rescued persons were brought to Jispa and were provided first aid, food and lodging. Their Covid tests had been conducted and the positive cases were being taken care of. Two persons had suffered chilblains and were being given treatment.

The DC lauded the relentless efforts of BRO officers for the rescue operation that lasted more than 35 hours amid one of the heaviest snowfall spells of the season along with avalanches and slides on the entire stretch from Darcha to Baralacha. He said the district administration had helped more than 1,000 stranded persons in 19 days.

Meanwhile, the Lahaul valley was reeling under darkness as the power lines were damaged due to heavy snowfall. The road connectivity had been hit.

There were reports of damage to greenhouses and rootstocks at various places.