Two women walk 20 km in snow to deliver question papers in Lahaul

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, March 1

Trudging more than 20 km in snow to ensure the timely delivery of question papers for the matriculation exams starting next week remains a challenge for the staff of the Education Department in the snow-bound Lahaul-Spiti.

It is the dedication to the service of its staff, including two women employees Angmo and Sarla, which helps the department in accomplishing the task on time. The two employees have earned the accolades of everyone as they walked 20 km in five or six feet snow to deliver the questions papers at the Kolang examination centre.

The Himachal Pradesh State Education Board gets the question papers delivered at 12 district headquarters and then it is the duty of the Education Department to supply these further.

Talking to The Tribune, Premnath Parsheera, Deputy Director, Higher Education Department, Lahaul-Spiti, said, “Delivering papers during heavy snowfall is not new to us but this time, there has been frequent spells of snow. We had even planned to airdrop question papers through a helicopter but inclement weather conditions had not permitted it.”

“We have 10 examination centres in Lahaul Spiti. Question papers have been delivered at eight centres. The board examination will start on March 6. The two centres, Sissu and Tingret, are almost not reachable these days because of heavy snow,” he said.

Parsheera said all preparations had been done for the board examination.

Due to the heavy snowfall in the region, the traffic has been at a standstill across the district for the past one month. There is no transportation facility for the residents.

Due to bad weather conditions since February 10, the regular helicopter service could not be provided to the residents of Lahaul valley. As a result, the number of applicants has increased drastically. The state government had also sought help of the Indian Air Force to airlift the stranded people, but the response is still awaited.

Over 1400 stranded in Kullu, Lahaul 

• Residents of Lahaul valley have urged the state government to provide regular flight service to the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti.
• More than 1,400 persons, including patients, employees, and students, are stranded in the border districts of Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti.
• Large numbers of natives of Lahaul and Spiti are living in Kullu district. They are working in the government or private service or doing their own business in Kullu, while their family members are staying in the snowbound Lahaul valley. Nearly 850 persons have applied for the chopper service to go to Lahaul. Similarly in Lahaul-Spiti, nearly 570 persons want to move to Kullu district.
• Due to bad weather conditions since February 10, the regular helicopter service could not be provided to the residents of Lahaul valley. As a result, the number of applicants has increased drastically.