Six Andhra tourists stuck in Kufri, rescued

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 5

Following information received on 112 Helpline that some tourists were stranded in snow near Bhalku road in snow, ASI Suraj Kumar and other staff members started the search operation.

The vehicle of tourists was stuck in snow and it was not possible to remove it. The six tourists from of Andhra Pradesh, Nagender Babu, L Vijay Ranghwa, D Kamal Kumar, Funny Kumar, MLP Kumar and Balveer Singh, were rescued by the police. The rescue operation continued till 5 am.

Meanwhile, a disabled person died after skidding in snow in the Nerva area of Shimla district.

Inder Singh (46), son of Ginchiya Ram of Mandah village, sustained serious injuries last evening after he skidded in snow. He complained of pain and was taken to the civil hospital, Nerva, but the doctor declared him brought dead, police sources said.

Meanwhile, piercing cold wave conditions continued unabated in Himachal as minimum temperatures hovered around freezing point at most places in spite of dry weather and the sun failed to warm up the region. The region had a clear day in the morning but dark clouds appeared in the sky by the evening and icy winds swept the region.

The high altitude tribal areas and mountain passes groaned under biting cold wave conditions with mercury staying 16 to 24 degree before freezing point. Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low of minus 10.9 degree and minus 8.5 degree.

Manali and Kufri recorded minimum temperatures at minus 2.8 degree and minus 2.3 degree C.