Shimla: Four people have died, seven were injured and more than 30 are feared buried under the debris of a major landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district on Wednesday.
4 dead bodies retrieved and 7 injured rescued by ITBP from the landslide zone on Reckong Peo-Shimla Highway near Nugulsari, District- #Kinnaur, HP today. 17th, 43rd and 19th Battalion ITBP are conducting the rescue operations#Himveers pic.twitter.com/5iC2u5dsQU
โ ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 11, 2021
NDTV has reported on the death of the person and the fact that a truck, a Himachal Road Transport Corporation-run bus carrying 30 people and other vehicles are believed to be buried in the rubble.
Initial reports had said around 40 people were feared buried. Subsequently, the number was brought down to 30.
Deputy commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq told PTI that several vehicles are buried under the debris.
Another landslide! Location: #Kinnaur, Himachal. A bus carrying people has been trapped in it. ITBP has reached the site. Praying for the safety of ppl trapped! ๐pic.twitter.com/cmtwLAgVn6
โ Levina๐ฎ๐ณ (@LevinaNeythiri) August 11, 2021
The bus was on its way from Reckong Peo in Kinnaur to Shimla, he said.
The Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local rescue teams have been called in for the rescue work, the Kinnaur deputy commissioner said.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police force has also tweeted that its teams are aiding rescue missions.
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
โ ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 11, 2021
Sadiq also said shooting stones are still falling which is creating problems in carrying out the rescue operation.
Several have pointed to deforestation as a triggering factor behind the landslide. The Tribune had reported a day ago, on August 10, that Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur had said that the Supreme Court had granted approval in 600 cases for forest clearances.
(With PTI inputs)
Note: This report is being updated as information on rescues come in.