Tourists moved to safer places in snow-blocked Spiti Valley

Shimla: In response to the closure of roads in Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley due to heavy snowfall, authorities successfully evacuated 81 stranded tourists to safer places, as reported by the police on Monday.

The state emergency operation centre reported that more than 650 roads, including five national highways, remained closed on Monday due to avalanches and landslides triggered by continuous rain and snow over the past three days.

In Lahaul and Spiti district’s Spiti Valley, the stranded tourists were successfully moved to various hotels and homestays on Sunday night, according to a police statement. However, approximately 290 roads in the tribal district remain blocked, causing widespread disruption, and numerous areas have been without electricity for the past two days.

The severe weather conditions have also hampered mobile network connectivity in Lahaul and Spiti. Officials reported an avalanche near Dara waterfall, raising concerns and prompting alerts in nearby areas. Residents of Jobrang, Rapi, Jasrath, Tarand and Tharot have been advised to stay vigilant and contact the nearest police post in case of emergencies.

Meanwhile, a persistent cold wave continues to grip the entire state.

(with PTI inputs)