Shimla, September 28: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has conducted a total of 110 sorties to rescue people stranded due to heavy rains and snowfall in Himachal Pradesh. Around 224 people have been rescued by the IAF. Wing Commander SK Ahuja involved in the rescue operation in the state, while speaking to media appreciated the efforts of pilots doing low hovers to winch people from the snow-laden areas. He said, “Everything snow laden so no place to land, pilots doing the magnificent job by doing low hovers & winching operations.”

On Wednesday, nearly Nearly 300 people have been rescued out from Shishu and Koksar in Lahaul Valley through the Rohtang Tunnel. The rescued people include faculty and students from IIT-Mandi, IIT-Roorkee, IIT-Guwahati, IIT-Mumbai, some foreigners on trekking beside locals from Himachal Pradesh.

The rescue operations are jointly being carried out by the IAF and Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Many people were stranded in the high altitude regions of the state due to snowfall and cloudburst. Kullu district and Lahaul-Spiti were worst affected, whereas due to heavy snowfall on Rohtang Pass, Lahaul and Spiti Valley have been cut off. Due to this a large number of tourist who had gone to Leh and Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh. BRO also provided medical aid and refreshment to rescued people at Rohtang Tunnel.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 28, 2018 09:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).