One-third of state plunges into darkness

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 22

The snowbound area of upper Shimla district, parts of Karsog and Seraj in Mandi district, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Dalhousie, Bharmour and Killar in Chamba district of the state on Tuesday plunged into darkness after heavy snowfall snapped transmission lines across the region, forcing people in one-third area of the state to live in darkness.

Later in the evening, communication connectivity was also cut, as the snowfall damaged overhead cables in the snowbound region cutting all links roads and telephone lines in most of the areas.

Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL) says that the board will restore the power supply as and when the weather is clear. However, linemen working in the fields said it would take days to restore the transmission lines in the apple belt and high altitude areas of the state.

The board employees restored the power supply in New Shimla, Chapslee and Engine Ghar after three hours on Tuesday, but the residents and tourists in Mashobra, Kufri and Fagu on the suburbs of the capital city remained not only without electricity but also without road connectivity for the entire day, exposing the tall claims of the district administration to provide hassle-free services to the residents during the snowfall.

“There is no electricity since 11 am in Chopal subdivision as the overhead transmission lines have been snapped by tress uprooted by the snowfall,” said Gobind Thakur, a resident of Chopal.

JP Kalta, MD, HPSEBL, said the electricity had been restored in the towns after some disruption and restoration would speed up in all snowbound areas once the weather clears up.

CM’s copter grounded

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur  cancelled his tour of Sansarpur-Terrace in Kangra as his helicopter could not take off due to snowfall and he had to go to the Secretariat on foot. Thakur took a walk from the Secretariat to the Ridge to take stock of the situation and directed the administration to open roads and ensure that the residents did not face inconvenience.

Advisory for tourists 

• The Shimla administration has issued an advisory for the commuters to drive in low gear and asked the commuters not to overtake while driving
• The administration has asked tourists not to venture out in high-altitude areas and visit the Facebook page of the Shimla district administration for weather updates
• In case of any emergency, citizens and tourists can call on the helpline  1077