Himachal CM Sukhu Addresses Crisis as 380 Tourists Stranded in Sissu

Chief Minister's Virtual Meeting on Lahaul-Spiti Situation

S Gopal Puri

Shimla: During an official visit to Bihar, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu held a live virtual meeting on Friday with senior officials from Lahaul-Spiti to discuss the ongoing crisis in the area.

In the meeting, which was broadcasted on the CM’s official social media platforms, Sukhu inquired directly from Deputy Commissioner Kiran Bhadana about her field visits since the situation worsened.

Bhadana assured the CM that she had been consistently present in the field, particularly in Sissu, where around 380 tourists and 333 vehicles are currently stranded due to the Pagal Nala landslide.

She also updated the Chief Minister on the partial restoration of power at the Tharot and Billing hydroelectric plants, while other facilities like Jaspa, Darcha, and Niyad remain out of service.

To aid in evacuations, authorities have established alternate routes, with 66 vehicles rerouted through Rohtang.

Sukhu emphasized the need for officials to prioritize the evacuation of all tourists from Lahaul, instructing them to set clear targets instead of aimlessly moving around.

“If the roads are blocked, ensure evacuation on foot,” he directed. He also permitted security forces to temporarily take custody of stranded vehicles, provided they issue proper receipts—“Just keep the vehicles,” the CM stated.

The Deputy Commissioner reported that about 200 tourists had been evacuated the day before. “That’s good,” Sukhu responded, “but make sure all tourists are safely guided out of Lahaul-Spiti—not left behind.”