Problem in chopper leaves Lahaul cut off

Manali: All emergency helicopter sorties to snow-bound Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal have been cancelled due to technical problems in the chopper since Wednesday and people would only be able to get the facility after at least four more days.
All road links to Lahaul valley have been blocked with heavy snowfall and chopper service would be the only mode of transportation between Lahaul and Kullu till May 2012. Technical problem in the 20-seater chopper, which has been leased from Mesco Airlines, has scared hundreds of people in the valley who remain dependant on flight for all emergencies.
"Inclement weather and cancellation of helicopter service has led to worry among people in Lahaul, considering that no emergency help would be available during this period," Sanjeev Shashni, a resident of Sissu village, lamented. He rued that the government has no backup plan to tackle such situations.
A four-seater small chopper was hired for Friday and three sorties were scheduled between Kullu and Lahaul especially for staff supervising teacher's eligibility test (TET) on Sunday. But the sorties were cancelled due to inclement weather.
04/02/12 Suresh Sharma/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Feb 2012