Avalanche warning in Chamba district

SHIMLA: Amid warning of heavy to very heavy rain and snowfall at isolated places, Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) has issued warning of avalanches at few places in Chamba district on Sunday due to heavy snowfall in tribal areas and on higher reaches of the state for the last few days.
In a communication, HPSDMA said that there is possibility of avalanches in few avalanche-prone areas, especially in Chamba district, during the next 24 hours, particularly on March 8.People have been advised not to venture out in such areas on Sunday. HPSDMA has directed the district administration to take all precautionary measures, keeping in view the possibilities of avalanches in the district.
A senior officials of the state government said that the administration was fully prepared to meet any such situation arising out of heavy snowfall. He said the government had directed all deputy commissioners to monitor the situation and be ready for relief and rescue operation if such an eventuality occurs.
Snowfall in tribal areas of state have already thrown normal life out of gear as power transmission lines and communication lines are snapped at many places while roads are blocked. In Spiti valley of Lahaul-Spiti district, a resident of Sumling village after suffering burn injuries had to be dragged on snow on a makeshift sledge for 12 km to reach Kaza hospital. It took residents 30 hours to reach the hospital as roads were blocked due to heavy snow, said former Lahaul-Spiti MLA Dr Ram Lal Markanda.
"In Lahaul-Spiti heavy snowfall has blocked all roads within the district and patients needing treatment are waiting for the chopper service," he said. He said that already 6 to 8 feet snow has covered the tribal district, while more is predicted for the coming days.