Manali: Besides the eight Israeli nationals who are stranded in Pin valley of Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal since June 5, the rising level of water in Kiri river has also put 2,500 residents of thirteen villages in trouble.

Stranded in their own treacherous valley, villagers had been seeking help for over a week as their ration and other commodities have almost depleted. Power supply and telephone connectivity to the valley has snapped and some confused and helpless villagers have already made failed attempts to cross the flooded stream, putting their lives in danger.

About 2 km stretch of the connecting road has disappeared and all retaining walls across the stream have completely collapsed. Residents of Mud, Guling, Sagnam, Khar and other affected villages are requesting government to drop ration, LPG, kerosene and other facilities by air.

"We have ration stock for some more days, but most of people have finished their available LPG and kerosene oil," said Tenzin Gyatso, a resident of Mud village, over phone. Residents are surprised to see non-stop flow of water and debris which they claim had never been witnessed for decades. "It is surprising how black water mixed with black debris had been oozing out of mountains without rain for last 11 days. It is impossible for glaciers to melt so fast," he added.

150 people who were working close to the stream, which was already in spate, had a narrow escape on Thursday when water level increased suddenly and washed away huge chunks of land. The flooded stream witnessed a sudden rise in level again on Friday. As the government failed to airlift tourists, a team of local administration, police and rescue volunteers who visited the spot could not find the exact source of flood water. Now the administration has planned to drop ration and medicines to villages on Saturday.

"The stream is again in flood and it looks impossible to cross it until the water level reduces and debris becomes hard enough to walk upon. We have planned to drop ration at affected areas on Saturday," said Kaza sub-divisional magistrate Hemis Negi.

Lahaul-Spiti MLA Ram Lal Markandeya said he has asked general administration department to arrange for a helicopter to airlift the stranded tourists. "We need to carry out a recce of the place and I've demanded a team of geological experts to check what is the reason behind unstoppable flow of water from the mountain top," he said.

While other stranded tourists managed to walk over the jammed debris few days ago, 8 tourists who are staying at a guest house in Guling village are still waiting for relief from the other side. After flood washed away the temporary rescue ropeway erected over the stream, administration and police have been helplessly gazing at the other side of the stream.

Meanwhile, after Himachal government failed to airlift the stranded tourists, agencies in Israel have been contacting people in Spiti seeking help to obtain permit to land their own helicopter. "A health insurance company from Israel is planning to fly to Spiti with their helicopters. They are seeking my help in this regard and I have conveyed their message to the administration," said Tenzin Gyatso, a resident of Mud village.