Mussoorie: The Met Department predicts more rain and snowfall in the hills over the next few days. The local administration has swung into action, wanting no repeat of the 4th of January mayhem, when Mussoorie ground to a halt.
With lessons learnt, officials are on their toes, no longer wanting to be caught off guard. Priorities include regulating the flow of exponential increase in traffic. Four JCBs have been placed at crucial road junctions to ensure that roads in and out of town remain open. Abandoned vehicles are being removed and although there is no umbrella ban on those entering town for now, a few regulations have been put in place.
Talking to Newspost, SDM Varun Choudhary who has been personally taking stock of operations assures citizenry: “We have made a stock of all available medicines, ambulances have been readied in case of need. Police barriers have been put up at regular intervals. Food packets have been stocked up in isolated places like Baataghat. It suffered most with tourists stranded for hours on end this 4th of January.”
SDM, Mussoorie also has a word of advice for tourists and locals travelling to Mussoorie over the next few days: “If you are a tourist make sure you carry your prior hotel booking receipt. If a resident, keep your aadhar card or driver license ready for checking so that you can make your way into town. Those without either will be turned back.”
Dr. Prabhanjan, a doctor from Gopalganj, visiting Mussoorie opines: ‘A few breath analyser kits would do the magic and reduce drunks behind wheels,’ and many agree with him.
How prepared the local machinery is? How co-operative locals and tourists will be in making this round of snowfall hassle free? The results will be out in the next forty-eight hours.
