Helipads to be constructed at 11 places in Pithoragarh

ALMORA: Helipads are being constructed at eleven different places in Pithoragarh district to cater disaster management and tourism.
The government has already approved construction of helipads at Munsiyari, Sosa, Tijam, Chaukori, Gunji, Milam, Gunji, Bundi, Askote, Bagudyar and Jaguar.
In the first phase, helipads at Munsiyari, Sosa, Tijam, and Chaukori would be completed.The helipad at Munsiyari is already completed and others are under construction.
In the second phase, helipads would be constructed at Askote, Jaguar and Gunji. The helipad at Gunji would be suitable for H2 category choppers including MI 17s. Besides, two helipads would be constructed at Jauljibi as part of the approved disaster management centre that would soon come up here.
The district administration has already sent proposals for improving the temporary helipad infrastructure at Bugudyar, Milam and Bundi.
“We have also proposed construction of helipads at Bangapani and Darma valley, so that we can cover all the remote places. We are waiting for approval of funds. Once the helipads are constructed, tourism will increase and the tourist inflow to these places would also increase manifold,” said Sushil Kumar, the DM of Pithoragarh. In an event of disaster, the helipads would help in providing relief and rescue to remote zones, added Kumar.
Pithoragarh borders Tibet on the north and Nepal on the east. The district is home to numerous glaciers and Himalayan peaks, including Nandadevi and Trishul. Pithoragarh is also a disaster-prone zone. Each year, floods and landslides hit the district in the monsoon. In 2013, more than a dozen people were killed in Pithoragarh and villages in Byans valley and Dharchula town were completely cut off for a month because the road connecting with the other districts was washed away.