Thirteen people travelling in a Tata Sumo from Kullu to the remote Pangi Valley were killed in a massive landslide near Kaddu Nala on the Udaipur-Killar road in Lahaul. The incident occurred on Friday, when the passengers, including four women, eight men and a six-month-old infant, were trapped under the debris.
The passengers are believed to have been residents of the tribal Pangi Valley in Chamba district, and the deceased driver was identified as Bir Singh. They had reportedly stayed overnight at Tindi after the Udaipur-Killar road was blocked by a landslide on Thursday. They resumed their journey towards Pangi after the road, maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), was reopened on Friday morning.
The accident occurred when a major section of the hillside collapsed near Kaddu Nala as their vehicle was passing through the stretch. Policemen from Tindi, local administration officials and rescue teams rushed to the spot, and relief and rescue operations were launched immediately. Initially, the rescue teams managed to pull one injured person from the debris, but the victim later succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital.
Landslides Becoming Frequent Due To Monsoon Rains
This incident occurred days after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) patrolling team rescued a seven-month-old baby and an elderly man in two separate incidents on the Chamba-Bharmour stretch of NH-154A. The infant, who was on oxygen support, was being shifted to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba, when landslides blocked the highway at Durgethi on Thursday. The baby was carried by NHAI personnel across the blocked stretch to a patrol vehicle waiting on the other side.
The elderly patient was also trying to reach the hospital when the highway was blocked by a landslide. The NHAI team helped him cross the affected stretch safely.
Other incidents of landslides and flash floods have also been reported from various parts of Himachal Pradesh. In Kinnaur, road connectivity was disrupted after debris blocked the Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH-5) near Cholling and damaged the Ribbaa-Kande link road. No casualties were reported. In another incident, flash floods in the Ribba Khad damaged parts of the same link road, where a few small vehicles were also damaged, although no casualties were reported.
Twenty-four pilgrims were stranded near a temple in the Bharmour subdivision of Chamba after flash floods washed away a temporary bridge. They were rescued in a joint operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the local administration, the mountaineering institute and the Public Works Department.
Weather Update And Travel Advisory
The repeated landslides and flash floods are being caused by the intensifying south-west monsoon in the region. Fresh warnings have been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), with an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh from July 27 to 29, increasing the risk of rain-related incidents.
The IMD has appealed to residents and tourists to avoid landslide and flash flood-prone areas, maintain a safe distance from rivers and streams, and refrain from unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rainfall. The monsoon is expected to regain momentum in the coming days, and the authorities are closely monitoring the weather situation.
(With inputs from PTI and other sources)
FAQs
1. What happened in Lahaul-Spiti?
A Tata Sumo travelling from Kullu to Pangi Valley was buried under a massive landslide near Kaddu Nala on the Udaipur-Killar road in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul district, killing all 13 people onboard.
2. Who were the victims?
The passengers were reportedly residents of the tribal Pangi Valley in Chamba district. The victims included four women, a six-month-old child and the driver, Bir Singh.
3. What caused the landslide?
The landslide was triggered by intense monsoon rainfall, which caused a large section of the hillside to collapse onto the road.
4. Has Himachal Pradesh witnessed other landslides recently?
Yes. Several landslides and flash floods have disrupted roads in Kinnaur, Chamba and other districts, while rescue operations have been carried out for stranded residents, patients and pilgrims.
5. What is the latest weather advisory for Himachal Pradesh?
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh from July 27 to July 29 and has advised residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel in landslide-prone areas.
