Snow, rain disrupt life in Chamba, 58 roads blocked; exams held in sub-zero conditions

Naresh Thakur

Chamba, March 2

Heavy snowfall and unrelenting rains have adversely hit Chamba district, disrupting normal life. Roads were blocked and electricity supply was snapped.

Heavy rains led to the closure of several key roads. The disruption in transportation left many stranded and unable to commute to work.

As per the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), 58 roads were blocked for traffic across the district. Twenty-nine of these were blocked in Pangi subdivision, and another 15 in Bharmour.

ROADS BLOCKED, POWER SNAPPED

• As per the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), 58 roads were blocked for traffic across the district
• Twenty-nine of these were blocked in Pangi subdivision, and another 15 in Bharmour
• The inclement weather resulted in power outages in various parts of the district.
• More than 250 electricity transformers malfunctioned in the district. Out of these, 78 were in Pangi, 58 in Dalhousie, 49 in Tissa and 39 in Chamba.
• The lack of electricity posed challenges to students appearing for their board examinations

The Chamba-Tissa road was blocked near Pagola due to a massive landslide. Incessant rains also hampered the restoration of the key road near Rakhalu, where it was blocked for heavy vehicles for over 10 days.

Additionally, the inclement weather resulted in power outages in various parts of the district. More than 250 electricity transformers malfunctioned in the district. Out of these, 78 were in Pangi, 58 in Dalhousie, 49 in Tissa and 39 in Chamba. This resulted in hundreds of villages plunging into darkness. The lack of electricity not only hampered household activities, but also posed challenges to students appearing for their board examinations.

Students in the area struggle amid chilling weather

With the ongoing board examinations of classes 10 and 12, students grappled with the adverse weather conditions, making it difficult for them to reach their examination centres on time. Amid intermittent rain and snowfall throughout Saturday in Pangi, students appeared for their examinations across 13 centres set up by the HP Board of School Education.

Despite the challenges posed by the nearly 48-hour snowfall, examination was conducted successfully at Government Senior Secondary School, Sural.

Situated at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet, the examination centres in the remote and high-altitude areas were faced with the daunting task of conducting the annual examinations, with snow accumulation reaching up to 2-2.5 feet.

The sub-zero temperatures in the tribal valley also made it extremely challenging for the student who were appearing for the exams.

According to some students, despite the adverse weather conditions, all necessary arrangements had been made, including the provision of gas heaters. Subdivisional Magistrate (Pangi) Raman Gharsangi said the board exams were going on smoothly in the valley. Students travelling from afar were provided hostel facilities at the examination centres.

Landslide damages house

A house was damaged after being hit by a landslide at Siyuka village in Ruhnukothi, Bharmour subdivision. The threat of destruction also loomed over adjacent houses. Many fields belonging to residents were also swept away by the landslide.

Villagers blamed the road contractor for the landslide. According to them, the road was constructed illegally, with the debris from the construction not being properly disposed off. It was dumped on the roadside, leading to drains being blocked, villagers alleged. Local residents Ashwani Soi, Manish Kumar, and Indra Devi demanded action against the contractor.

Panchayat pradhan Sanju Thakur said he visited the site and assessed the situation. A 100 metre stretch had been swept away in the landslide, he added. Besides, a house had been damaged and losses were being assessed. Meanwhile, another house was damaged in a landslide at Piyuhara panchayat of Bharmour subdivision, he said.