RAGING WATERS: The Sutlej flowing dangerously through the twin tunnels at the Kol dam in lower Himachal Pradesh as the water level increased suddenly on Saturday. — Photo: PTI

SHIMLA: A red alert has been declared in Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Bilaspur and Mandi districts following a rise in the level of the Sutlej on Sunday morning.

A breach in the artificial dam created last year on the Parechu River in Tibet and the fast melting of glaciers in the upper reaches are the reasons for the 40-50 feet rise in the river at Sumdo.

Amandeep Garg, Deputy Commissioner of Kinnaur, has not ruled out the possibility of the Parechu Lake across the border overflowing. The true picture can be ascertained only after the satellite images have been studied, he said.

Bridges damaged

Mr. Garg has estimated the losses due to the flood at Rs. 100 crores. No loss of human life has been reported. This was due to the timely steps taken by the district administration to evacuate people living on both sides of the river in the danger zone, he said. At least five bridges have been washed away and some houses near the Sutlej have been damaged.

The small bridges at Khab, Karcham, Leo, Akpa and Kharo have been destroyed and bridges at Morang and Kanam have been damaged, according to the State Government officials. At least 20 houses, some orchards and parts of the National Highway have been damaged or washed away, they said.

The State Government has announced an immediate grant of Rs. one crore for relief work in Kinnaur and Shimla districts.

The State Government conducted an aerial survey to assess the extent of the damage. State Power Minister Vidya Stokes said all low-lying areas had been evacuated and essential commodities stacked at various places. The floodwater would take at least three hours to reach Rampur, the main habitation, and the Nathpa Jhakri Power Project officials had been alerted, she said.

A monitoring cell had been established at the State headquarters here. The Deputy Commissioner said control rooms had been set up at all tehsil headquarters to monitor the situation. There was no shortage of essential commodities in the district and steps had been taken to avoid hoarding by the traders, he said.

In Shimla district, according to the SDM of Rampur, D.K. Rattan, two bridges at Rampur had been washed away. Water had entered 50 houses and two bridges of the Nathpa Jhakri Power Project had been washed away.

The floodgates were kept open at the dam site in Nathpa and the water did not enter the main Power House in Jhakri, said J.K. Sharma, project officer. "The 1500 MW project is absolutely safe, but closed due to a high silt level in the water," he said.

Experts had warned that the Parechu River and Lake could breach its banks in summer with the melting of snows in the high mountains.

The Chinese authorities had cooperated with the Indian officials to monitor the artificial lake, officials said.

They had agreed to a controlled blast to be conducted on the lake if required. In 2000, around 150 people were killed when the Sutlej flooded its banks. On Saturday, the Chinese delegation led by Ambassador Sun Yu Xi met the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister here and discussed the flood threat from the Parechu.

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