Five dead, at least 30 trapped after landslide sweeps away bus and other vehicles in northern India
This is the second landslide to have hit India’s northern tourist state of Himachal Pradesh in a matter of weeks
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.At least five people have died and 30 people are feared trapped under debris after yet another landslide struck the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, sweeping away a tourist bus and several vehicles on a highway.
The massive landslide that damaged the Reckong Peo-Shimla highway in the state’s Kinnaur district on Wednesday has led to state authorities deploying around 300 troops of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), apart from disaster management units, at the accident site.
Ten people, including the driver and conductor of the bus, have been pulled out from a huge pile of mud and boulders.
Terrifying visuals filmed by locals showed a torrent of mud and boulders crashing down a hill into the valley and obliterating the highway, leaving behind a huge cloud of dust.
At least 12 people have been found injured in the landslide that left behind wrecked cars, truck and bus, according to police, who said between 25 and 30 people are still trapped under the rubble.
The rescue operation was being hindered intermittently as huge boulders continued to fall at the site, local lawmaker JS Negi told reporters.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and federal home minister Amit Shah spoke to Jairam Thakur, the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh and assured him of providing all possible assistance.
The rescue operation is going at the site of the accident with visuals showing troops digging through the debris to find survivors. One visual shows an injured survivor being carried on a stretcher by rescue officials.
In the aftermath of the landslide, images showed a wrecked truck dangling on the cliff and a car lying on the debris.
Torrential downpours have been sweeping parts of India during the ongoing monsoon season, leading to flash floods and a string of landslides in Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Maharashtra and other parts of the country.
Experts say climate change has altered rainfall patterns, leading to heavy rainfall along India’s western coast, while the warming Arabian Sea is driving more cyclones and intense rainfall over short periods of time.
Northern Himachal Pradesh state that sees scores of tourists has, however, remained the worst affected, with several landslides devastating parts of the states in the span of weeks.
In another part of Kinnaur last month, nine tourists were killed and several injured after heavy boulders came crashing down and pounded a huge bridge in the Sangla valley area.
The state has recorded 35 major landslides between 13 June to 30 July, making an increase of 116 per cent, according to a report by the Hindustan Times. Last year, 16 landslides were recorded across Himachal Pradesh, according to the report.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments