Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and around 1,500 tourists were stuck in the Sangla Valley after the area was cut off due to landslides.
Incessant rainfall in the region has triggered massive landslides that blocked the road leading to the valley in Kinnaur district.
Mr Singh has been stranded in Sangla since yesterday evening. A helicopter sent to fetch him, had to return due to unfavourable weather conditions, Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Sudprita Roy said.
"Work is on to reopen road link to the Sangla Valley and other major roads. Tourists are also stranded across the district, mainly in Sangla area," Deputy Commissioner JM Pathania told IANS.
He said high alert has been declared as more than 60 percent of the district was badly hit by heavy rain. Some areas in Pooh experienced snow.
The chief minister, who was on election tour for the Mandi parliamentary by-poll slated for June 23, has been stationed at Sangla village, some 275 km from state capital Shimla.
The Hindustan-Tibet road leading to the China border along Kinnaur is blocked at several locations, said officials.