Shimla divided into 5 zones to tackle snow hardships

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 8

The district administration has chalked out a plan dividing Shimla city into five sectors and appointed officers for each sector with a view to ensuring that people do not face hardships due to the snowfall.

A meeting was held here under chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi to review the preparedness of the administration to handle any situation arising out snowfall. It was decided that the officers concerned would also hold meetings with other officers regarding the measures to be taken.

Negi said that Sanjauli, Dhalli, Kufri, Naldehra, Mashobra and Baldian would fall under Sector-I, Dhalli-Sanjauli bypass, Sanjauli Chowk-IGMC-Lakkar Bazaar-Victory Tunnel, Kaithu, Bharari, Chaura Maidan, Annandale and the Deputy Commissioner’s office under Sector-II, Shimla bypass via the ISBT to Shoghi, Chhakar, Boileauganj, HPU, Totu, Jutogh, Nabha, Phagli, Khalini, Vikas Nagar and BCS under Sector III.

Victory Tunnel to Chhota Shimla Chowk, ARTRAC, US Club, Mall Road, Ridge, Rich Mound and Ram Chandra Chowk under Sector IV and High Court, Raj Bhawan, Benmur, State Secretariat, Mehali, Kusumpti and Pantha Ghati under Sector V.

He said that a parking facility would be ensured on the Dhalli-Kufri road, arrangement of buses for going to Kufri would be made and a chained ambulance and 4x4 vehicles for Quick Response Teams (QRT) would be arranged during snowfall.

He asked drivers and conductors to give their mobile phone numbers if their

buses were stranded due to snow so that their location could be identified.

He instructed the Public Works Department to keep manpower and machinery in the state of readiness.

Negi said that all vulnerable points should be identified and adequate staff be deployed for clearing snow and dumping it at some other place to avoid inconvenience to tourists due to traffic obstruction or jams. He directed the local administration to prepare a plan for the parking of vehicles.

Meanwhile, 105 roads, including 100 in Lahaul and Spiti, are still closed in the state. The Met Department has forecast a dry weather in the state for the next four days. Keylong was the coldest place recording the minimum temperature of minus 7°C while Una was the hottest at 27°C.