300, including 45 IIT students, stranded in HP safe: Official

Shimla: About 300 people, including 45 IIT Roorkee students, stranded in various parts of Lahaul and Spiti district are safe, a Himachal Pradesh government official said Tuesday.

Following the snowfall, the Rohtang Pass and inner roads in the area got blocked due to which about 300 people, including the students who were on a trekking expedition, got stranded, Keylong Sub Divisional Magistrate Amar Negi said.

Negi said two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters had been sought from the state government for rescuing the stranded people.

All the people, including the 45 students, who got stuck due to bad weather and snowfall are safe, he said.

The stranded people were being provided shelter and food by the district administration.

State Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur visited Lahaul-Spiti district on Tuesday to take stock of the situation arisen out of recent snowfall, he said.