News Analysis India

Tag: Himachal landslide

  • Himachal Pradesh: Chandrabhaga river blocked after landslide in Lahaul-Spiti; CM talks to Amit Shah

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: A landslide blocked the flow of the Chandrabhaga river in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti on Friday morning, leading to the flooding of some homes and fields in two villages, an official said.

    Residents of some villages downstream were also evacuated as a precautionary measure, State Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said.

    Four houses of Tarang and Jasrat villages were affected due to the flooded water after the blockage of the Chandrabhaga river, he said.

    Mokhta stated that the two villages were hit due to the flooded water, and four houses of Sukh Chand, Devi Chand, Ramesh Lal and Prem Lal got affected.

    The Chandrabhaga river was blocked near Jahalman village between Nalada and Jasarat in Udaipur subdivision, Udaipur resident Bir Bahadur Singh said.

    Five cowsheds, a sheep and a calf were also washed away, and a 30 bigha agricultural land got flooded, Mokhta added.

    The soil study team has reached the incident site to inspect the area, he said.

    The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been requested to be on standby mode at Kullu, Mokhta added.

    However, later he said that Chandrabagha water flow started over the landslide blockade after some time.

    Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said in the state assembly that he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the Chandrabhaga blockage triggered by landslide and Shah assured him of every possible help, he added.

    Meanwhile, a high-level team under the leadership of Tribal Development Minister Ram Lal Markanda, consisting of Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh and Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu, reviewed the blockage of the Chandrabhaga river at Nalada village, caused due to massive landslides, Thakur was later quoted as saying in a statement.

    The chief minister said that on receiving the information of the incident, the team was immediately sent to take stock of the situation.

    He said there was a gradual improvement in the flow of the river.

  • Himachal landslide: Death toll climbs to 15 as one more body recovered

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: The death toll in the landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district has climbed to 15 with the recovery of one more body on Friday, a senior disaster management official said.

    Rescue operations resumed this morning to trace the 15 others still missing in the landslide that occurred near Chaura village in the district on Wednesday.

    While 10 bodies were recovered on Wednesday, four were found on Thursday from the landslide site.

    Besides 13 people were rescued on Wednesday itself.

    State Disaster Management Director, Sudesh Kumar Mokhta, said search and rescue operations resumed at around 5.30 am.

    The authorities had suspended the search operation on Thursday night.

    A Bolero and its passengers feared buried under the rubble could not be traced, Mokhta said, adding that it might be possible that the vehicle rolled down with the debris.

    The rescue work being carried out jointly by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), ITBP, police and home guards, resumed at 6 am on Thursday, state Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said.

    The state authorities had suspended the rescue operation around 10 pm on Wednesday.

    A Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, which along with other vehicles, was buried under the debris, has been found badly damaged.

    A Bolero car feared buried under the rubble could not be traced, Mokhta said, adding that it might be possible that it rolled down with the debris.

    The HRTC bus was on its way from Reckong Peo to Haridwar via Shimla when it was hit by boulders after the landslide around Wednesday noon.

    CM Thakur said the HRTC bus driver had stopped there, seeing falling stones.

    Several vehicles had stopped behind it.

    As boulders started falling at the site where the vehicles were stationed, the driver, conductor and two other passengers who alighted from the bus saved themselves by taking shelter under a rock.

    They were later rescued.

    They could not see what happened to other vehicles as it became very dark around the area, the CM said.

    The bus was crushed under the rubble and its pieces were found scattered here and there, he added.

    The rescue work had to be halted for some time due to shooting stones, the CM said, adding that it was very difficult to complete it manually.

    The CM said five of the 13 rescued were at the Bhawanagar CHC when he visited there to enquire about their health.

    One injured has been referred to Hamirpur and another to the IGMC in Shimla, he added.

    Shooting stones are still hampering the rescue operation, he added.

    The CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his message extended every possible help and they are trying to complete the rescue operation as soon as possible.

    President Ram Nath Kovind, Union minister Anurag Thakur and BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda have also expressed grief over the deaths, he added.

    Meanwhile, in a video clip on social media, a rescuer working at the site near the mangled remains of the bus is heard saying that the vehicle was found by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 17th Battalion.

    Another rescuer says gloves should be brought for continuing the rescue operation.

    Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq said four more bodies were recovered from the spot after the rescue operation resumed on Thursday.

    Fourteen bodies have been recovered so far, he told PTI.

    In a touching Facebook post in Hindi, Lokendra Singh Vedic, a resident of Shimla, said his father’s body has been found but “rescuers are yet to find his head”.

    CM Thakur met the kin of the dead and family members of those missing, assuring all possible help from the government.

    The CM said the state government will provide Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured.

    Rs 1 lakh will be given to the kin of the dead bus passengers by the Transport Department, he said, adding that free treatment will be provided to the injured.

    The CM said the state government will also conduct a geological survey of the area.

    Earlier, a two-minute silence was observed in the state Assembly to pay homage to those who died in the landslide.

    Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj told the Assembly that CM Thakur, along with Industries and Transport Minister Bikram Singh, has gone to the spot to take stock of the rescue work.

    Bhardwaj said the landslide occurred at a place where people usually stop for sightseeing and take photographs.

    The state government had requisitioned four helicopters for rescue work on Wednesday but they could not reach the site due to bad weather, he added.

    Senior Congress leader Asha Kumari said Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, Rampur MLA Nand Lal and Shimla Rural MLA Vikramaditya Singh have also gone to the spot.

    Expressing grief, CPM MLA Rakesh Singha said the factors that cause such landslides should also be examined.

    The dead have been identified as Rohit Kumar (25), a resident of Kaiya village at Rampur in Shimla; Vijay Kumar (32) of Jhol village in Sujanpur of Hamirpur ; two-year-old Vanshuka of Sapni in Sangla of Kinnaur; Meera Devi, Nitisha, Prem Kumari , Gyan Dassi, Devi Chand (53), Kumari Radhika (22), Bhupender (29), all from Kinnaur; Kamlesh Kumar (34) of Rechuta village in Solan and Lakshman Thapa (19), who hails from Nepal and currently living in Theog, Shimla.

    One dead person is yet to be identified, Disaster Management Director Mokhta added.

  • Kinnaur landslide: Death toll reaches 14 as four more bodies recovered

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: Four more bodies were recovered from the landslide site in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district where the search and rescue operation resumed early on Thursday, raising the death toll to 14, officials said.

    Four more bodies were recovered from the spot after the rescue operation resumed, Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq told PTI.

    He said 14 bodies have been recovered so far.

    The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, which, along with other vehicles, was buried under the debris after the landslide, has been found in a badly damaged condition, State Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said.

    However, a Bolero car still could not be traced, he added.

    The HRTC bus was on its way from Reckong Peo to Haridwar via Shimla when it was hit by boulders after the landslide around Wednesday noon near Chaura village on national highway-5 in Nigulsari area of Nichar tehsil.

    A video of the rescue workers at the site near the mangled remains of the bus has gone viral whereby a rescuer is heard saying that the bus was found by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 17th Battalion personnel.

    Another rescuer states that gloves should be brought for further carrying the operation.

    The rescue operation, being carried out jointly by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the ITBP and the members of local police and home guards, resumed at 6 am on Thursday, Mokhta said.

    The authorities had suspended the operation on Wednesday at around 10 pm.

    Ten bodies were recovered on Wednesday, while 13 others were rescued with injuries.

    Several others are still feared buried under the debris.

    However the exact number was not known.

    On Wednesday, the Bhawanagar station house officer (SHO) had said around 25 to 30 people were trapped under the debris.

    When the initial reports came, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had told the state assembly that 50-60 people were feared trapped under the debris but the exact number was not known.

    The Kinnaur deputy commissioner had also told PTI that over 40 passengers were in the bus.

    Eight of the dead were found trapped in a Tata Sumo taxi during the search and rescue operation on Wednesday.

    A truck rolled down towards a riverside due to shooting stones and the driver’s body has been recovered, officials said.

    A car had also been found in the damaged condition on Wednesday but no one was found in it, they added.

  • Kinnaur landslide: Death toll reaches 13 as four more bodies recovered

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: Four more bodies were recovered from the landslide site in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district where the search and rescue operation resumed early on Thursday, raising the death toll to 14, officials said.

    Four more bodies were recovered from the spot after the rescue operation resumed, Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq told PTI.

    He said 14 bodies have been recovered so far.

    The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, which, along with other vehicles, was buried under the debris after the landslide, has been found in a badly damaged condition, State Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said.

    However, a Bolero car still could not be traced, he added.

    The HRTC bus was on its way from Reckong Peo to Haridwar via Shimla when it was hit by boulders after the landslide around Wednesday noon near Chaura village on national highway-5 in Nigulsari area of Nichar tehsil.

    A video of the rescue workers at the site near the mangled remains of the bus has gone viral whereby a rescuer is heard saying that the bus was found by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 17th Battalion personnel.

    Another rescuer states that gloves should be brought for further carrying the operation.

    The rescue operation, being carried out jointly by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the ITBP and the members of local police and home guards, resumed at 6 am on Thursday, Mokhta said.

    The authorities had suspended the operation on Wednesday at around 10 pm.

    Ten bodies were recovered on Wednesday, while 13 others were rescued with injuries.

    Several others are still feared buried under the debris.

    However the exact number was not known.

    On Wednesday, the Bhawanagar station house officer (SHO) had said around 25 to 30 people were trapped under the debris.

    When the initial reports came, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had told the state assembly that 50-60 people were feared trapped under the debris but the exact number was not known.

    The Kinnaur deputy commissioner had also told PTI that over 40 passengers were in the bus.

    Eight of the dead were found trapped in a Tata Sumo taxi during the search and rescue operation on Wednesday.

    A truck rolled down towards a riverside due to shooting stones and the driver’s body has been recovered, officials said.

    A car had also been found in the damaged condition on Wednesday but no one was found in it, they added.

  • Kinnaur landslide: Death toll reaches 13 as ITBP retrieves one more body

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: The death toll due to the landslide at Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh rose to 13 after the retrieval of another body on Thursday early morning by ITBP.

    The search and rescue operation for the Kinnaur landslide victims trapped in a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus and a Bolero was resumed early on Thursday, a state disaster management official said.

    The rescue work resumed on Thursday at 6 am, the state Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said.

    The rescue operation is being carried out jointly by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the members of local police and home guards, he added.

    The authorities had suspended the operation Wednesday at around 10 pm.

    The HRTC bus, which had been on its way from Reckong Peo to Haridwar via Shimla, was hit by the boulders after Wednesday landslide around noon near Chaura village on national highway number five in Nigulsari area of Nichar tehsil.

    While 13 were rescued with injuries, several others are feared buried under the debris after the landslide trapped the bus and other vehicles on Wednesday.

    The number of dead may further increase as the HRTC bus and the Bolero and its passengers were not found under the debris and are still untraceable.

    It might be possible that both the vehicles rolled down with the debris, he added.

    Eight of the dead were found trapped in a Tata Sumo taxi during the search and rescue operation on Wednesday itself.

    A truck rolled down towards a riverside due to shooting stones and the driver’s body was recovered on Wednesday.

    A fully damaged Alto car was recovered on Wednesday but no one was found inside the car.

    A video clip captured the horror of the moment.

    First, shooting stones fell down the mountainside into the river below, creating small splashes of water.

    Warming whistles were heard and then a big chunk of the mountain collapsed on National Highway 5 and into the river.

    Fighting to complete the operation before nightfall, rescue workers struggled to pull out survivors and bodies from the debris near Chaura village in Nigulsari area of Nichar tehsil.

    Hours after the landslide a little before noon, Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq told PTI that 10 bodies had been pulled out and others were feared trapped.

    Eight of the dead were found trapped in a Tata Sumo taxi, according to state disaster management director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta.

    A Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, which was on its way from Reckong Peo to Haridwar via Shimla, was still buried under the debris, he said.

    The official said the number of the dead may further increase as another HRTC bus and a Bolero and its passengers were not found under the debris and are still untraceable.

    It might be possible that both the vehicles rolled down with the debris, he added.

    Meanwhile, the authorities suspended the search operation at around 10 pm and it will be resumed Thursday morning.

    Mokhta also said that a Tata Sumo has been found in which eight persons were found dead.

    He said a truck rolled down towards a riverside due to shooting stones and the driver’s body has been recovered.

    A fully damaged Alto car has also been recovered, he said, adding that no one was found inside the car.

    Early reports said there could be up to 40 people in the state-run bus.

    Earlier, the Bhawanagar station house officer (SHO) said around 25 to 30 were trapped under the debris.

    When the initial reports came, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told the state assembly that 50-60 people were feared trapped under the debris, but the exact number was not known.

    He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked to him and the topmost priority as of now was to rescue those trapped and provide them the best possible treatment.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Thakur over the incident.

    “PM @narendramodi spoke to Himachal Pradesh CM @jairamthakurbjp regarding the situation in the wake of the landslide in Kinnaur.

    PM assured all possible support in the ongoing rescue operations,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

    Shah also spoke to Thakur to take stock of the situation and directed the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to provide all assistance to the state government in rescue and relief operations.

    Thakur told the Assembly that a helicopter was also being arranged for the rescue operation.

    The chief minister said the landslide occurred when there was no rainfall.

    Among the dead are a two-year-old girl and five women, a state official spokesperson said.

    Two of the dead were identified as Rohit Kumar (25), a resident of Kaiya village at Rampur in Shimla; and Vijay Kumar (32) of Jhol village in Sujanpur of Hamirpur district, Mokhta said.

    The eight dead found in Tata Sumo have been identified as two-year-old girl Vanshuka of Sapni in Sangla tehsil of Kinnaur; Meera Devi, Nitisha, Prem kumari (42), Gyan Dassi, Devi Chand (53), all from Kinnaur district; and Kammlesh Kumar (34) of Rechuta village in Solan.

    One dead person is yet to be identified, Mokhta added.

    The injured were identified as bus driver Mahinder Pal, a resident of Bilaspur; conductor Gulab Singh of Mandi; Prashant, Varun Menon, Rajender of Hamirpur, Daulat of Kinnaur, Shorang Project driver Charan Jeet Singh of Naleenakal in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib, Saveen Sharma of Nepal, Japti Devi of Rampur in Shimla, Chander Gyan of Pooh in Kinnaur, Arun of Rampur, Anil Kumar and Kaizang Negi of Skibba at Moorang in Kinnaur.

    They have been shifted to a Bhawanagar community health centre (CHC) for treatment, officials added.

    The state disaster management authority has requisitioned the NDRF from Nurpur for the search and rescue operation, Mokhta said.

    District officials, search and rescue teams, including members of local police, home guards, NDRF, ITBP and a medical team are at the incident site, he said.

    Ten ambulances, four earth removers, 52 personnel of the ITBP’s 17th Battalion, 30 personnel of police and 27 NDRF personnel are carrying out the rescue operation, he added.

    Officials said the bodies have been sent for autopsy.

    Earlier on July 25, nine people were killed and three others injured in multiple landslides near Batseri in Kinnaur district.

    Similarly on July 27, at least eight people died, two were injured and two went missing in flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Lahaul-Spiti district.

    Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur had informed the state Assembly on August 4 that 218 people died and 12 went missing in Himachal Pradesh this monsoon season.

  • 10 dead, 13 rescued as landslide hits Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur

    By PTI

    Ten people were killed, 13 rescued and several others feared buried under debris after a landslide trapped a bus and other vehicles in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district on Wednesday, officials said.

    A video clip captured the horror of the moment.

    First, shooting stones fell down the mountainside into the river below, creating small splashes of water.

    Warming whistles were heard and then a big chunk of the mountain collapsed on National Highway 5 and into the river.

    Fighting to complete the operation before nightfall, rescue workers struggled to pull out survivors and bodies from the debris near Chaura village in Nigulsari area of Nichar tehsil.

    Hours after the landslide a little before noon, Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq told PTI that 10 bodies had been pulled out and others were feared trapped.

    Eight of the dead were found trapped in a Tata Sumo taxi, according to state disaster management director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta.

    A Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, which was on its way from Reckong Peo to Haridwar via Shimla, was still buried under the debris, he said.

    The official said the number of the dead may further increase as another HRTC bus and a Bolero and its passengers were not found under the debris and are still untraceable.

    It might be possible that both the vehicles rolled down with the debris, he added.

    Meanwhile, the authorities suspended the search operation at around 10 pm and it will be resumed Thursday morning.

    Mokhta also said that a Tata Sumo has been found in which eight persons were found dead.

    He said a truck rolled down towards a riverside due to shooting stones and the driver’s body has been recovered.

    ALSO WATCH:

    A fully damaged Alto car has also been recovered, he said, adding that no one was found inside the car.

    Early reports said there could be up to 40 people in the state-run bus.

    Earlier, the Bhawanagar station house officer (SHO) said around 25 to 30 were trapped under the debris.

    When the initial reports came, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told the state assembly that 50-60 people were feared trapped under the debris, but the exact number was not known.

    He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked to him and the topmost priority as of now was to rescue those trapped and provide them the best possible treatment.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Thakur over the incident.

    “PM @narendramodi spoke to Himachal Pradesh CM @jairamthakurbjp regarding the situation in the wake of the landslide in Kinnaur. PM assured all possible support in the ongoing rescue operations,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

    Shah also spoke to Thakur to take stock of the situation and directed the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to provide all assistance to the state government in rescue and relief operations.

    Thakur told the Assembly that a helicopter was also being arranged for the rescue operation.

    The chief minister said the landslide occurred when there was no rainfall.

    A landslide reported on Reckong Peo- Shimla Highway in #Kinnaur District in Himachal Pradesh today at around 12.45 Hrs. One truck, a HRTC Bus and few vehicles reported came under the rubble. Many people reported trapped. ITBP teams rushed for rescue. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/ThLYsL2cZK
    — ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 11, 2021
    Among the dead are a two-year-old girl and five women, a state official spokesperson said.

    Two of the dead were identified as Rohit Kumar (25), a resident of Kaiya village at Rampur in Shimla; and Vijay Kumar (32) of Jhol village in Sujanpur of Hamirpur district, Mokhta said.

    The eight dead found in Tata Sumo have been identified as two-year-old girl Vanshuka of Sapni in Sangla tehsil of Kinnaur; Meera Devi, Nitisha, Prem kumari (42), Gyan Dassi, Devi Chand (53), all from Kinnaur district; and Kammlesh Kumar (34) of Rechuta village in Solan.

    One dead person is yet to be identified, Mokhta added.

    The injured were identified as bus driver Mahinder Pal, a resident of Bilaspur; conductor Gulab Singh of Mandi; Prashant, Varun Menon, Rajender of Hamirpur, Daulat of Kinnaur, Shorang Project driver Charan Jeet Singh of Naleenakal in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib, Saveen Sharma of Nepal, Japti Devi of Rampur in Shimla, Chander Gyan of Pooh in Kinnaur, Arun of Rampur, Anil Kumar and Kaizang Negi of Skibba at Moorang in Kinnaur.

    They have been shifted to a Bhawanagar community health centre (CHC) for treatment, officials added.

    The state disaster management authority has requisitioned the NDRF from Nurpur for the search and rescue operation, Mokhta said.

    District officials, search and rescue teams, including members of local police, home guards, NDRF, ITBP and a medical team are at the incident site, he said.

    Ten ambulances, four earth removers, 52 personnel of the ITBP’s 17th Battalion, 30 personnel of police and 27 NDRF personnel are carrying out the rescue operation, he added.

    Officials said the bodies have been sent for autopsy.

    Earlier on July 25, nine people were killed and three others injured in multiple landslides near Batseri in Kinnaur district.

    Similarly on July 27, at least eight people died, two were injured and two went missing in flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Lahaul-Spiti district.

    Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur had informed the state Assembly on August 4 that 218 people died and 12 went missing in Himachal Pradesh this monsoon season.

  • Two dead, 30 feared buried as landslide hits Himachal’s Kinnaur; Army, NDRF called in

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: Two persons were killed and about 30 others feared buried under the debris after a major landslide trapped a bus and other vehicles in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district on Wednesday, officials said.

    State Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said at least 13 persons were pulled out of the rubble in an injured condition during the initial hours of the rescue operation and shifted to a nearby hospital.

    He added two bodies have been recovered so far.

    One of the deceased has been identified as Rohit Kumar of Kayao village in Rampur area of Shimla district, Mokhta said.

    The landslide and shooting of stones occurred at Chaura village on national highway number five in Nigulsari of Nichar tehsil in Kinnaur district at around noon, he said.

    The official said among the injured is Mahinder Pal, the driver of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, which was trapped under the debris.

    The identity of others is being ascertained, he added.

    ALSO WATCH:

    The injured have been shifted to Bhawanagar community health centre (CHC), Mokhta said.

    He said the HRTC bus, which was on its way from Reckong Peo to Haridwar via Shimla, a car and a truck lie damaged near the vicinity of the landslide area.

    As per the information provided by a police officer in Bhawanagar, around 25 to 30 are still trapped under the debris.

    The rescue operation is on to locate the trapped persons, he added.

    The State Disaster Management Authority has requisitioned the NDRF from Nurpur for conducting the search and rescue operation, the police officer said.

    District administration officials, search and rescue team comprising members of local police, homeguards, NDRF, ITBP, Quick Response Team (Police) and Medical Team are at the incident site, he said.

    Ten ambulances, four earth removers, 52 personnel of the ITBP’s 17th Battalion, 30 personnel of police and 27 NDRF personnel are carrying out the rescue operation, he added.

    A landslide reported on Reckong Peo- Shimla Highway in #Kinnaur District in Himachal Pradesh today at around 12.45 Hrs. One truck, a HRTC Bus and few vehicles reported came under the rubble. Many people reported trapped. ITBP teams rushed for rescue. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/ThLYsL2cZK
    — ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 11, 2021
    Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told the state assembly that there are reports that 50-60 people are feared trapped under the debris, but the exact number was not known.

    He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has talked to him and the topmost priority as of now is to rescue those trapped under the debris and provide them the best possible treatment.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Thakur over the incident.

    “PM @narendramodi spoke to Himachal Pradesh CM @jairamthakurbjp regarding the situation in the wake of the landslide in Kinnaur.

    PM assured all possible support in the ongoing rescue operations,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

    Union Home Minister Shah also spoke to Thakur to take stock of the situation arising due to the landslide The home minister also directed the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to provide all assistance to the Himachal Pradesh government in rescue and relief operations.

    Thakur also told the assembly that an Army official called him and extended help.

    A helicopter is also being arranged for the rescue operation, the chief minister said.

    He said the landslide occurred when there was no rainfall in the area at that time.

    Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, Abid Hussain Sadiq told PTI that several vehicles, including the HRTC bus carrying over 40 passengers, were buried under the debris.

    Several people have been killed in landslides in the state this monsoon season.

    Earlier on July 25, nine people were killed and three others injured in multiple landslides near Batseri on Sangla-Chitkul road in Kinnaur district.

    Similarly on July 27, at least eight people died, two were injured and two went missing in flash floods triggered by a cloudburst over the Tozing Nullah in Udaipur of Lahaul-Spiti district.

    Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur had informed the state assembly on August 4 that a total of 218 people have died and 12 were missing in Himachal Pradesh this monsoon season.

  • Nahan-Kumarhatti road on NH 907 in Himachal blocked due to massive landslide

    By ANI
    SHIMLA: Amid rain in Himachal Pradesh during the ongoing monsoon season, Nahan-Kumarhatti road was blocked on National Highway 907 following a massive landslide on Monday.

    State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) informed that restoration work on the road is currently underway.

    The SDMA had on Monday informed that the estimated loss worth Rs 632 crores has occurred in the state due to rain, cloudburst and landslides.

    While speaking to ANI, SDMA Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta had said, “So far, 211 people and 438 animals have died in incidents related to rain, cloudburst, and landslide in Himachal Pradesh during this monsoon season.”

    “109 houses are fully damaged. Estimated loss worth Rs 632 crores has occurred”, said SDMA Director SK Mokhta.

    On Sunday, the Chandigarh-Manali Highway (NH-3) was blocked due to a landslide near the Pandoh area of Mandi district. According to the district police official, the restoration work is still underway.

    Also, as reported on July 28, 14 people died due to floods accompanied by landslides in Lahaul and Kullu. “14 people have died in 24 hours due to heavy rains and floods, of which 10 died in Lahaul and 4 people in Kullu. 3 bodies are yet to be recovered from Lahaul. The water flow is very high in Kullu, so we are unable to recover any bodies,” Anil Khachi, Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh government had informed.

    The SDMA had earlier said that nine people died, 3 injured and seven persons went missing following flash floods in Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts.

    Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had said that the National Disaster Management team was also been moved towards the Lahaul-Spiti district.

  • State highway connecting Gramphu to Kaza in Himachal blocked due to landslide

    By ANI
    LAHAUL SPITI: The state highway that connects Gramphu to Kaza was blocked at Dorni Nala on Wednesday by a massive landslide caused by heavy rain.

    “The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is working on clearing the route and it will be opened by tomorrow,” informed Manav Verma, Superintendent of Police (SP), District Lahaul and Spiti.

    The Highway provides access to Spiti from Lahaul and Manali.

    The district administration has issued an advisory for people to avoid travelling to Spiti from Manali or Lahaul.