Shimla: An unusual early snowstorm in the higher reaches of Chamba hills has left four people missing and the search parties sent out to trace them on Friday have not come across any clues about their whereabouts.
The early snowfall that hit the Chamba-Pangi range on Wednesday has made the high altitude valley snowbound, severing road links with the outside world.
When contacted, DK Chaudhary, additional SP Chamba over phone disclosed that a two day search has proved unsuccessful in tracking down the four people who had set out to cross Sach Pass in snowy weather.
The four persons, Sanjiv Kumar, Devi Singh, an ex-serviceman Dyan Singh and unidentified persons had set out from Chamba town to their native place in Pangi Valley. With the road becoming snowbound at the higher reaches the four decided to cross the Sach Pass on foot and along the route they encountered a Nepali. At the end of walk through the snow only the Nepali reached Boghtu and informed the police of four others being trapped on the route.
A police search party from Boghtu has not found any trace of the missing persons. There is about 3 feet of snow on the Chamba side of the pass and the level is higher on the Pangi side, said Chaudhary, ASP Chamba.
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Update:
Shimla: Governor Prabha Rau and chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal have expressed deep shock and grief over the sad demise of four persons of Pangi (Tribal area) who were recently trapped in a snowstorm while crossing the ‘Saach Pass’ during their travel from Chamba to Pangi.
Expressing his deepest condolences, Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss. He has also directed the district administration to provide immediate ex-gratia amount to next of kins of the victims of the tragedy.
This is cruel incident