Tibet lake overflowing, says China

Beijing has informed New Delhi that the Pareechoo lake in Tibet has started overflowing and its banks could break any time, triggering fresh fears of flash floods in Himachal Pradesh. In the absence of definite information, rumours have set off a wave of panic in this area.

There are no signs yet, however, of any rise in the level of either the Sutlej or its tributary, the Spiti. But that is not reassuring people here or in other villages along the two rivers.

There was talk of a wall of the lake collapsing at about 6.00 a.m. By early evening, rumours said that the overflowing waters of the lake had entered India. The bazaar emptied out as people got ready for the worst.

"For almost two weeks now, we have been living in fear," said J.K. Chauhan, a garment merchant at Nogli Bazaar, 5 km from here. He has emptied his shop twice in the last three days.

Jiyalal, another merchant, said: "Army men came here today and warned us that the water would be travelling at an incredible speed, and the river level would rise over 70 feet. Everything here would be washed away. But at this  moment the situation doesn’t look so grim. We haven't slept for a week."

At least 65 families living close to the Sutlej in Rampur Bazaar were evacuated.

There were rumours of controlled blasts at the lake. But Kinnaur SP Gyaneshwar Singh could not confirm them.

Even the central and state governments were in the dark about what exactly was happening in Tibet. Beijing denied permission to a team that was supposed to go to Tibet to assess the situation.

Given the gravity of the circumstances, however, New Delhi put the army, air force and ITBP on high alert and set up a chain of wireless posts along the Sutlej to facilitate a quick response. The state government also posted men along the river.