Himachal rain aftermath: IAF chopper to drop ration for stranded shepherds

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter will drop ration on Thursday for over 50 shepherds feared stranded due to sudden snowfall in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, a state official said here Wednesday.

One shepherd died and 50 others are feared stranded in the Dhauladhar ranges at Bara Bhangal area, the official said.

The Himachal government has arranged a helicopter for air dropping ration for the stranded shepherds due to sudden snowfall, Chief Secretary B K Agarwal said.

The chief secretary told PTI that the helicopter would be made available on Thursday, he said, adding that 50 bags of food items, each weighing about 6-7 kg, would also be lifted from the Gaggal airport for dropping there.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kumar, Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial, sub-divisional magistrate Baijnath, doctor, district public relations officer and a cameraman will board the helicopter, he added.

Agarwal said that the proposed route of the helicopter would be the Gaggal airport, Kangra-Jalsu Pass-Bara Bhangal (brief landing), Thamsar Pass-Khalihani Pass-Bara Bhangal-Jalsu Pass-Gaggal airport.

Kumar had on Tuesday requested the state government to provide a helicopter for air dropping of ration to the people stranded in these areas, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Manisha Nanda said.

After receiving this information, the state government immediately raised the matter with the Ministry of Defence, she said.

"Some of the shepherds, who returned safely to their houses in Paddar of Nagrota Bagwan tehsil, informed the district administration that over 50 shepherds stranded there are safe, but they have run out of ration. So, ration will be dropped for them by the IAF helicopter tomorrow," Kumar said.

"We received information on Sunday of the death of one shepherd, who had gone to the Dhauladhar ranges for grazing about 500 sheep," he said.

"Subsequently, we formed two search and rescue teams, including some family members of the stranded shepherds, but they are unable to tread to ranges to locate or assist anyone due to about six feet high snow there," the official said.

A search party has returned with 35 sheep and goats and two dogs to Multhan, he added.

(With inputs from agencies.)