50-60 people feared buried after landslide in Himachal Pradesh

Approximately 60 people are feared buried under the debris of a major landslide in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was quoted by ANI as saying 50-60 people could be trapped in the debris in the landslide at the Nugulsari area of Kinnaur, which occurred around 12.45pm.

Thakur added four people, including the driver and conductor of the trapped bus, had been rescued. NDTV reported one person had been killed in the accident.

Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq told PTI that several vehicles, including a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus carrying over 40 passengers, are buried under the debris. The bus was on its way from Reckong Peo in Kinnaur to Shimla, he said.

The ITBP Twitter handle informed one truck, a HRTC bus and few vehicles reportedly came under the rubble.

The Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), ITBP and local rescue teams have been called in for the rescue work. Sadiq also said shooting stones are still falling, which is creating problems in carrying out the rescue operation.

ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandy told ANI, “Around 200 jawans of 3 battalions of ITBP are the spot where landslide is happening. The teams are waiting for more than one hour for the shooting stones to stop… The area is currently very dangerous.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to take stock of the situation arising due to the landslide. The home minister also directed the ITBP to provide all assistance to the Himachal Pradesh government in rescue and relief operations.