The Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation has urged visitors to put their safety first when planning a trip to Himachal Pradesh because of the heavy rain that has been falling in several parts of the state. According to news sources, flash floods in Himachal Pradesh have destroyed crops, residences, and vehicles. And the IMD (India Meteorological Department) has issued a state-wide alert until the end of June. Meanwhile, the Mandi-Kullu route reopened on June 26 after nearly 20 hours of closure. Around 300 highways remain closed in the state, with hundreds of tourists still stranded.
The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation chairman and Cabinet Minister Rank, RS Bali, urged visitors to consult the State Disaster Management Authority website before making travel arrangements. Himachal Pradesh has seen significant rainfall over the last few days, which has caused landslides on numerous roadways leading to tourist attractions. Because of this, Bali encouraged travellers to consult the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) website before their trip. Bali also cautioned visitors to strictly adhere to marked trek routes since, although traffic congestion may eventually ease, tourists, straying onto unmarked trek paths are the main cause for concern.
Visitors to the state have been cautioned not to travel near rivers or to hilly areas. Furthermore, before travelling to their destinations, they should inquire about the condition of the roads. Bali underlined that guests must keep their mobile phones' GPS features on at all times so that their whereabouts can be tracked while travelling. Tourists have been encouraged to avoid driving in mist, rain, and fog to maximise their stay and travel experiences in the hills while respecting the sacredness of the mountains.
What's More
Recently, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the government is considering formulating a new tourism policy. By promoting lesser-known destinations, the government aims to attract more visitors, leveraging the natural beauty and splendour of the state. In addition to these initiatives, the government is actively working on expanding the Kangra airport, constructing a greenfield airport in Nagchala in the Mandi district, and building new heliports across the state. The first phase of heliport construction includes nine locations Jaskot in Hamirpur district Rakkar and Palampur in Kangra district Sultanpur in Chamba district Manali in Kullu district Jispa, Sissu, and Rangrik in Lahaul-Spiti district and Sharbo in Kinnaur district.
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