Kangra: A family of seven tourists from Jalandhar, Punjab, narrowly escaped a major tragedy after becoming stranded due to a sudden and massive surge in water levels at Neugal Khad, a popular tourist destination in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The group, which included two men, three women, and two young children, found themselves trapped on the opposite side of a gorge after the fast-flowing torrent completely washed away a temporary wooden footbridge that served as their only exit route.
The family had been staying at a nearby private cafeteria for two days and decided to spend Saturday afternoon walking along the scenic banks of the stream. According to local officials, the flash flood occurred following a sudden release of water from a nearby hydel project in the upper catchment areas. While a safety warning siren was reportedly sounded by authorities prior to the water release, the visitors were unfamiliar with the local emergency protocols and failed to recognize the alert, leaving them with only minutes before the rising waters cut them off from safety.
Upon receiving urgent information regarding the stranded group, Palampur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dr. O.P. Yadav quickly coordinated with the local emergency services, accompanying the first responders directly to the site. Under the leadership of Fire Brigade Officer Surinder Kumar, the rescue team launched a highly challenging, hour-long evacuation operation. Demonstrating immense caution in the dangerous currents, rescuers constructed a makeshift crossing using iron ladders to bridge the gap. The team systematically evacuated the tourists one by one, prioritising the two children first, followed by the women and men. Thanks to the prompt intervention of the fire department, all seven family members were brought back to the riverbank safely without any reported injuries.
