Landslide hits bus in Himachal Pradesh, 40 passengers buried
By A Draft Correspondent
Over 40 persons are feared buried under the debris of a major landslide in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district on 11 August 2021.
Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq said 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.
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| CATASTROPHE: Forty people are feared buried under the debris of the landslide in Kinnaur |
The Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local rescue teams have been called in for the rescue work, the Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner said. Sadiq also said shooting stones are still falling which is creating problems in carrying out the rescue operation.
It may be recalled that, in July, nine tourists were killed after huge boulders fell on their vehicle near Basteri in Kinnaur district. Reportedly, multiple landslides triggered by incessant rains occurred near Basteri on the Sangla-Chitkul, resulting in a bridge collapse and damage to some vehicles. A video of the incident showed several boulders rolling downhill and smashing into the bridge, causing it to collapse.
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
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur had expressed condolences over the tragic incident. PM Modi had then announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
