Timber Trail accident exposed disaster management: TTR told after one and a half hours, the administration kept watching for 1 hour, it took two and a half hours for NDRF to come from 47 KM

Tourists rescued from Timber Trail Trolley.

The accident on the Timber Trail Ropeway (TTR) in Himachal Pradesh exposed the administration’s arrangements to deal with the disaster. The NDRF team from Nalagarh for relief and rescue work on the spot after about five hours. While the distance from TTR to Nalagarh is only 47 kms. It should take at most one and a half hour to cover this distance.

Fortunately, by the time the NDRF team reached the Timber Trail, the technical staff of the Timber Trail Ropeway (TTR) had safely rescued eight of the 11 people trapped in the two trolleys. After this accident, people are questioning the administration and the late arrival of NDRF.

Tourists sitting after being rescued on the Timber Trail.

Hotel management also did not give information on time

The trolley (cable car) got stuck in the Timber Trail ropeway at 11 am on Monday. For half an hour, the tourists trapped in it kept contacting the Timber Trail Hotel Management, but after not getting a positive response from the hotel management, they informed the police and the media at around 12.15 pm. Till then, the hotel management, avoiding its responsibility, did not inform the district administration about it.

Stranded tourists gave information at 12.30: DC

DC Solan Krutik Kulhari told that the tourists trapped in the Timber Trail accident have been informed to the administration at around 12.30 am. After this, the administration kept watching the response of relief and rescue work at the local level. He said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was informed around 1.30 pm.

Unloading the tourist by rope from the Timber Trail Trolley.

hence the question being raised

The first question is being asked about two hours after the incident to inform the NDRF, while the second question is being asked about the late arrival of NDRF by about two and a half hours. According to DC Solan, information was given to NDRF at 1.30 pm. In such a situation, how did NDRF take about two and a half hours to reach the Timber Trail from Nalagarh? While the state government has instructed NDRF and SDRF to be on alert even before the onset of rains,

A trolley hanging in the air at the Timber Trail.

Late information received from district administration: NDRFAccording to Additional Commandant NDRF Unit Nalagarh Sagar Singh Pal, the team was dispatched to the spot as soon as the information about the Timber Trail accident was received from the DC office, Solan. According to him, the NDRF got the information at 1:50 pm, after which the teams left for the spot after 10 minutes. Due to traffic, it has taken time to reach Parwanoo from Nalagarh.

If it took so much time in the district itself, then how will the rescue be done in the inaccessible areas?

During the rainy season in Himachal Pradesh, disasters happen every year. There is heavy loss of life and property due to incidents like landslides, stone fall and fencing in river drains at various places. For example, the role of relief and rescue teams becomes important. In such a situation, if the NDRF team reaches within a district after more than five hours, then how will timely relief and rescue work be possible in inaccessible districts like Kinnaur, Chamba and Lahaul Spiti.