Villagers hold protest against shortage of basic amenities in Kinnaur, Himachal

Kinnaur, Jan 22 (ANI): Villagers of Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur District protested over state government's apathy towards providing relief and basic amenities after heavy snowfall in the state.

Demanding electricity, water supply, better roads and communication connectivity, Kinnaur villagers staged demonstration and shouted slogans against the local administration on Saturday.

Nathpa village head, Jai Raj Negi, said there was no electricity for the past eight days.

"Kinnaur has witnessed heavy snowfall for last one week because of which all routes have been disconnected from the national highway. The administration is not carrying out any work to clear the roads, we are not being provided with water, electricity or telephone facility. We are facing shortage of kerosene oil and gas cylinders. Kinnaur is facing lot of problems, all the government offices are shut in the district," said Negi.

The administration said that they are making efforts to restore the power and water supply to the villages and snow clearance machines have been deployed to clear the routes.

"As far as the roads are concerned, national highway has been cleared and buses are plying on the road since yesterday morning. The PWD has deployed five JCB's to clear snow from the Link Road, so by tomorrow evening all the roads will be opened. At some places, electricity will be supplied by today evening and at rest of the places the electricity board is making all efforts to restore electricity supply by tomorrow," said Bhavnagar Sub Divisional Officer, Bhupender Atri.

Snowfall in the higher reaches of the Himalayas and intermittent rain in foothills of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand usually scaled down the mercury in the northern plains of India.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, minimum temperatures across most parts of northern India are plummeting below 2 to 3 degrees Celsius. (ANI)