The threat of flash flood to Himachal Pradesh from a breach in an artificial lake in Tibet completely receded on Monday, with the water levels in swollen Sutlej river and its tributary Parechhu dropping substantially.
Following this, thousands of evacuated villagers returned home.
The burst in the artificial lake in Tibet, which feeds Parechhu, killed six Chinese nationals, whose bodies were washed down and were seen floating in Sutlej near Sumdoh, six km from the international border, in Kinnaur district of the state.
The discharge of water in Sutlej river, which rose to 5,000 cusecs on Sunday, following a spate in Parechhu, washing away bridges and parts of villages, came down to 2,000 cusecs at Nathpa dam site and there were no reports of rise in its level upstream, official sources said.
About 5,000 people living along the banks of Sutlej, who had left their houses in panic yesterday and moved to safer places, had started returning and life was limping back to normal, they said.
However, 500 tourists, including 50 foreigners, were stranded at various places in Kinnaur district following road blockade by landslides. Efforts to rescue them by IAF helicopters were thwarted by bad weather.
{{/usCountry}}However, 500 tourists, including 50 foreigners, were stranded at various places in Kinnaur district following road blockade by landslides. Efforts to rescue them by IAF helicopters were thwarted by bad weather.
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