Shimla April, 20; An alert has been sounded in Kullu and Mandi as glaciers have started melting rapidly and the water level of the Beas has been increased due to rising temperature in high hills for the past few days.
The district administration has warned the tourists as well as locals to avoid approaching the banks of the Beas in view of safety concern. Kullu and Mandi are prone to river disasters. A number of calamities have been reported in the past when people were washed away in the river because strong water current in the Beas, which flows downstream from Manali onward toward Kullu and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.
The Pandoh Dam authority has informed the district administration, Mandi, that in view of the increasing water level dam gates could be opened to release excess water. Additional District Magistrate Mandi Vivek Chandel issued an advisory cautioning locals and visitors against going near the river banks.
It has also been advised that the cattle should not be left to graze in the area. The district administration, Kullu, has also advised the tourists to refrain from going near the river for fun as a precautionary measure. Wiser from the past tragedies, the district administration is gearing up to install warning boards from Bajaura up to Manali and Vashishth along the roadside at key points to apprise the tourists as well as the locals about the danger of gushing waters of the Beas.
Unaware of the dangers tourists from plains frequently descend on the banks of river the river for fun and mishaps are reported almost every year. Talking to The Tribune here today, Deputy Commissioner Kullu Yunus Khan said, “Around 120 warning boards will be installed at key points between Bajaura up to Manali and Vashishth for awareness purpose in next few days”.
The message will be displayed in Hindi and English, he said.“Apart from this, police personnel have been deployed at Vashishth to keep close vigil over tourists, who descend on the riverside for clicking selfies. The administration is concerned about the safety of tourists. The district administration will organize awareness campaign with the help of NCC, NSS and other volunteers In the first week of May apprising the tourists of the safety guidelines”, he pointed out.
Source Tribune India
