More than 40 feared buried under rubble after major landslide in Himachal Pradesh, India
A major landslide took place on the Reckong Peo-Shimla Highway in Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India at around 07:15 UTC (12:45 LT) on August 11, 2021.
The slide hit and buried a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus with 40 people on board, one truck, and several other vehicles, according to local media reports and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Search and Rescue (SAR) operations started soon after the event and the National Disaster Response Force was placed on alert.
Image credit: ITBP
Image credit: ITBP
Image credit: ITBP
Image credit: ITBP
ITBP said 10 bodies have been retrieved and 14 people rescued by 16:30 UTC. While there is no problem with manpower, the bus has not been traced yet.
The wreckage of the bus was found at 23:55 UTC (05:25 IST, first light LT, August 12) at approximately 500 m (1 640 feet) below the road and 200 m (655 feet) above Sutley River.
SAR operations were halted at around 07:30 UTC on August 12 due to shooting stones from uphill. 13 bodies have been retrieved so far, ITBP said.
हिमाचल प्रदेश: किन्नौर के रिकांग पियो-शिमला राजमार्ग पर भूस्खलन के मलबे में फंसे हुए 4 लोगों को आईटीबीपी (43वीं बटालियन, 17वीं बटालियन और 19वीं बटालियन) के जवानों द्वारा बचाया गया।#HimachalLandSlide @ITBP_official pic.twitter.com/GnGH2CHX2i
— डीडी न्यूज़ (@DDNewsHindi) August 11, 2021
Visuals of shooting stones and landslide at the landslide site near Nugalsari, Kinnaur, HP at 1300 Hrs today. 10 dead bodies have been retrieved so far from the rubble. 14 people have been rescued. #kinnaurlandslide #Kinnaur pic.twitter.com/iuEfLTPY6u
— ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 11, 2021
Visuals of Drone camera of the landslide site in #Kinnaur, HP earlier today. The 200 meter stretch seen covered with rubble. 2 ITBP teams are searching for the ill fated Bus from different directions in the downslopes to the river bed.#kinnaurlandslide pic.twitter.com/UOvRHFn1PL
— ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 11, 2021
The wreckage of the Bus found early morning today.#kinnaurlandslide pic.twitter.com/b0y5CS8pHy
— ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 12, 2021
Kinnaur has seen heavy rains over the past weeks and numerous landslides.
On July 25, a large landslide sent massive rocks tumbling down a mountain before crashing into a bridge and destroying it. Nine people have lost their lives and three others were injured.
Featured image credit: ITBP
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