Landslide hits Mandi in HP, 16 killed, dozens missing
least 35 people in two buses were missing, feared dead after a landslide swept away a 200-m stretch of the Mandi-Pathankot highway at Kotrupi village in Himachal Pradesh early on Sunday.
Mandi deputy commissioner Sandeep Kadam said 16 bodies have been recovered after the massive landslide at the village at 1.15 am. “Rain hampered rescue initially. It’s a massive landslide. The road has been washed away. Rescue teams have to take a lot of precautions since the debris is sliding,” he said.
Besides the two Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses, at least two cars and a motorcycle were also feared trapped in the mound of mud and stones. Five houses were damaged.
Himachal transport minister GS Bali said the toll is likely to rise. The two HRTC buses had halted for refreshments at a tea stall. Eight passengers were travelling in one bus going from Manali to Katra, while 50 were on board the second bus going from Chamba to Manali.
The Mandi-Jogindernagar road has been closed to traffic.
Army, National Disaster Response Force personnel, police, Home Guard and fire brigade teams are engaged in the rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi offered condolences on social media.
The Mandi district administration has issued helpline numbers 01905 226201, 226202, 226203, 226204.
State health minister Kaul Singh Thakur announced financial assistance of ₹4 lakh to next of kin of the deceased, while transport minister GS Bali announced ₹1 lakh would be given by HRTC.