Revenue Minister honours ‘Team Spiti’ involved in Rescue Operations

The Revenue Minister, Jagat Singh Negi who led the challenging rescue mission along with Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Sanjay Awasthi, for evacuating the  tourists stuck up  in over five feet of snow at Chandrataal, felicitated and honoured  the three Joseph Cyril Bamford (JCB) machine operators besides a team of youth from Losar and Pangmo namely  Naamka, Gyalsan, Chhering Dorje, Tashi Keshang, Namgyal, Tenzin Zangpo, Takpa Ishe, Pemba Tshering, Tenzin Kunfun and the Gram Panchayat head of Losar, Rinchin Dolma for their commendable contribution in the rescue operation and braving the chill in sub-zero temperature to reach out to stranded tourists. He said that the 26 km snow-covered road was cleared for vehicles at around 1.30 AM with the help of three JCBs, which included private operators, BRO and company workers and locals.

The Minister also commended the efforts of Superintendent of Police, Lahaul & Spiti, Mayank Chaudhary, who was last to move out after sending the stranded tourists, ADC Kaza, Rahul Jain, SDM Kaza, Harsh Negi, Tehsildar Bhumika Jain, Naib Tehsildar Prem Chand, Tribal Advisory Committee Member Keshang Rapchik, Veer Bhagat, Lidang, and the team of about 70 members from Losar, Kibber, Chichim, Kaza and from other villages. Apart from this the Minister also felicitated and lauded the efforts of Border Road Organisation (BRO), ITBP, Police, New Age India and Garg & Garg Company besides  Lambardar of Losar village for actively participating and working 24X7 to rescue the people stuck up in Chandartaal.

  The Revenue Minister has announced a reward of one lakh rupees to Mahila and Yuvak Mandal of Losar for their important role in the relief and rescue operation and organising food and snacks for those rescued from Chandrataal at Losar. The Minister also emphasised for organising disaster rescue training camps for them so that they could assist in such grave situations, whenever called for.

The Minister conveyed special thanks to the Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for entrusting him with the challenging rescue operation along with Sh. Awasthi and being in touch till the ‘Operation Chandrataal’ ended successfully.

Appreciating the role of the local people, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sanjay Awasthi said that JCB operator Sukhdev, drove JCB without a halt for 18 to 21 hours so that the road could be through. The Spiti administration also did an excellent job, he said.