One dead, over 40 feared buried as landslide hits Himachal's Kinnaur; Army, NDRF called in

SHIMLA: One person was killed and over 40 others were feared buried under the debris after a landslide trapped a bus and other vehicles in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district on Wednesday, officials said.

State Disaster Management Force Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said at least nine persons were pulled out of the rubble in an injured condition during the initial hours of the rescue operation.

The landslide occurred at around 11.50 am in Chaura village in Kinnaur, the officials said.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told the state assembly that there are reports that 50-60 people are 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.

Thakur said a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus and several other vehicles were buried under the debris.

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

The driver and the conductor of the bus and two other persons have been rescued, he added.

He said the driver and the conductor have sustained injuries and they are not in a position to tell the exact number of the passengers who were on the bus.

The teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the local police reached the spot for carrying out the rescue operation, Thakur said.

He said an Army official also 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 in the area.

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.

The bus was on its way from Reckong Peo in Kinnaur to Shimla, he added.