By IANS,
Shimla : Residents of a few villages in Himachal Pradesh’s tribal Lahaul and Spiti district are panicked over a mysterious explosion on top of a mountain. District administration authorities, however, have ruled out the possibility of volcanic activity in the area.
Residents of Rangrik and nearby villages, located at an altitude of 4,000 metres above sea level in the Spiti valley, have moved to safer places following the massive explosion Saturday.
“There is nothing to worry. There is no volcanic activity in the area. The explosion Saturday triggered some landslides and water is gushing out continuously. We have informed the state government. A team of experts from the Geological Survey of India will visit in a day or two to inspect the site,” C. Paul Rasu, Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner told IANS on phone.
“We have advised the villagers to remain away from the spot as there might be some reaction below the earth,” he said.
Padma Dorge, a villager who trekked up the hill Sunday along with several others, said: “We noticed some landslides at the explosion site. Water is continuously coming out of crevices that might have developed due to the explosion or landslide.”
He said most of the villagers have moved to safer places fearing volcanic activity.
Rangrik, located 200 km from the district headquarters of Keylong, is an isolated hamlet with a population of approximately 400.
The entire Lahaul and Spiti district, populated mainly by tribals, remains cut off from the rest of the country for more than six months in the year due to heavy snowfall. The climatic conditions of the landlocked district are harsh as much of the land falls under a cold desert.