Residents of Sissu in snowbound Lahaul valley carry the sick cop on a makeshift stretcher

MANALI: Residents of Sissu village in snow-bound Lahaul valley and BRO officials have come to the rescue of a critically-ill police constable, who was airlifted for Manali from Keylong but got stuck at Sissu due to inclement weather. As the helicopter could not fly even on Friday, 45 villagers braved the snow and avalanches to shift the cop in a makeshift stretcher to the Rohtang tunnel, from where he was driven to Manali in an ambulance arranged by BRO .

The villagers took turns clearing the snow to make a walking trail and carrying the patient. As it was snowing heavily, it took them 4 hours to cover a distance of 7 kms between Sissu and Rohtang tunnel - a stretch prone to avalanches at this time of the year. Once at the tunnel, an ambulance drove the constable to Manali.

Dhani Ram, a resident of Jogindernagar and posted at Keylong, has an appendix problem and doctors had suggested that he be moved to Kullu for treatment at the earliest. His colleagues had collected about Rs 1.20 lakh through donations to hire a private chopper to airlift him on Thursday. Keylong sub divisional magistrate Amar Negi said, "As the roads are blocked and helicopter could not fly on Friday, he was taken on a stretcher from Sissu till the tunnel."

Meanwhile, Congress hit out at the state government, accusing it of failing to provide relief to tribals and government employees. Speaking at a press conference here later in the day, Congress's ex-MLA from Lahaul-Spiti, Ravi Thakur blamed minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda and chief minister Jai Ram Thakur for the plight of tribals. "Our minister is not on good terms with the CM that us why he (CM) does not visit Lahaul valley. Patients in the valley have to wait for helicopter service to go to Kullu for treatment as the entire district has no specialist surgeon and doctor. We request the CM to conduct regular flights to Lahaul," he added.

The Lahaul valley is again experiencing snowfall. Over 100cm of snow has accumulated at some areas while snow depth at Koksar village is more than 5ft. All roads of valley are still lying blocked. Most areas have no electricity and phones are not working. The only transportation service through state government's chopper is also unpredictable due to weather and other reasons.

