Cut off by snow, Pangi seeks restoration of chopper service

Naresh Thakur

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Chamba, February 21

With the tribal Pangi valley in Chamba district cut off from the rest of the state after three days of heavy snowfall, locals have urged the state government to resume helicopter services to the snowbound area.

Known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultural heritage, the Pangi valley faces the brunt of nature’s fury during the winters.

Heavy snowfall blocks the roads in the mountains thereby stopping the vehicular movement.

Trilok Thakur, chairman of the Pangwal Ekta Manch, a group that provides common platform to people of Pangi to raise their issues, said the winter helicopters flights to the valley were discontinued in 2020-21.

“We have written to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at least thrice since the onset of winters in November to resume the helicopter services, but no action has been taken yet,” said Thakur.

He added that after the recent snowfall, the main Sansari-Killar-Thriot-Tandi road, which was maintained by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and lateral roads of the Public Works department were closed for vehicular traffic. The foot journey is fraught with risk due to the imminent threat of avalanches.

He said as the work for the restoration of roads may take days or weeks, the only mode to evacuate people who were either facing a medical emergency or stranded due to snowfall was the helicopter flights from Bhuntar or Chamba.

Thakur claimed that during the current financial year a provision of Rs 4 crore had been kept for the helicopter facility to tribal areas, which was lying unused.

The state government had also floated a tender for hiring helicopter on Wet Lease basis, including one twin-engine helicopter having carrying capacity of 14-16 passengers.

As per the schedule of bidding process, date for opening of financial bid was July 1, 2023 and for Issuance of Letter of Intent (LOI) was July 5, but the matter was put on the backburner, he added.

“When the government has obtained fund from the Centre under Tribal Area Development Budget, why such an essential service has been denied to us is beyond our comprehension. It is a great injustice with the 25,000 populace of Pangi,” he said.

He said they had again written to the Chief Minister and the government to make start helicopter flights to Pangi, so that people do not suffer in case of an exigency. There are four operational helipads in Pangi at Killar, Ajog, Sach and Dharwas. The facilities are cleared after every snowfall, but for last four years there have been no regular winter flights to the valley.

“We cannot afford to remain cut off from the rest of the state, especially when lives are at stake. The helicopter flight are not merely a convenience but a necessity for us,” remarked Devi Singh, a community leader in Pangi valley.

Spread across 1,595 km, Pangi has 25,000 people residing in 55 villages under 19 panchayats. The valley is accessible from the Lahaul and Spiti side and from the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir through Sansari-Killar-Thirot-Tandi road. However, this link gets snapped when it snows in the valley. The third route from Chamba to Killar via 4,500-metre high Sach Pass also remains closed for traffic from October to May.