IAF saves 230 lives in Himachal
Some 230 people, including 182 tourists, have been rescued by the Air Force from flooded areas.
Some 230 people, including 182 tourists, have been rescued by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from flooded areas of Himachal Pradesh and relief operations started in Gujarat where rivers are in spate following heavy rains.
IAF helicopters on Thursday airlifted to safety 182 tourists stranded for almost five days in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
"Some 97 tourists were airlifted from Sangla, 35 from Pooh and 50 from Rekong Peo. They include seven foreigners," said Arvind Sharda, police chief of Kinnaur district.
"Around 70 tourists still remain in Kinnaur and will be evacuated on Friday if the weather is clear."
In all, the IAF rescued 230 people in the state - 114 people from Recong Peo, 42 from Sangla, 65 from Pooh and nine from Leo. Four Mi-17 and two Cheetah helicopters were operated from Rampur.
Some 60 tourists had been airlifted earlier this week, half of them being foreigners.
"IAF has also commenced relief and rescue operations in Gujarat. Two Mi-17s from Jamnagar have been pressed into operation in the south Gujarat region," an air force spokesman said.
Other helicopter squadrons of the IAF's South Western Air Command are in a state of high alert.
IAF aircraft have delivered 600 kg of relief material to Recong Peo. About 3.3 tonnes of relief and rescue material has been airlifted to Samdo for the Indian Army, the spokesman said.
"In both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the IAF is carrying out operations in conditions of bad weather and visibility," he said.
Meanwhile, a Himachal government spokesman said that an eight-member central team carried out an aerial survey of Kinnaur. The team will return to Shimla on Friday and prepare a report.
Water levels in the Sutlej rose alarmingly on Sunday, washing away homes, roads, bridges and farms in Kinnaur, after the Parechu Lake in Tibet overflowed.
The 1500 MW Nathpa hydro project remained closed since Saturday due to high silt levels in the Sutlej, affecting power supply in northern India, an official said.