13 Killed After Landslide Crushes Vehicle Near Kadu Nala in Lahaul-Spiti; Massive Rescue Operation Launched.
Shimla:
At least 13 people, including a six-month-old infant, lost their lives after a Tata Sumo vehicle was buried under debris following a massive landslide and rockfall near Kadu Nala (Lohni) on the Sansari Nala–Killar–Thirot–Tandi road in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district on Friday.
According to Kiran Bhadana, Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Lahaul-Spiti, the accident occurred when a Tata Sumo bearing registration number HP-01M-2210 was struck by falling rocks and landslide debris. The vehicle was completely buried under the rubble.
The Deputy Commissioner said that, as per information received from the District Public Control Room (DPCR), Keylong, the Patwari of Tindi and 94 RCC of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a total of 13 people, including the driver, were travelling in the vehicle. All occupants are feared to have died in the tragic incident.
Immediately after receiving information about the mishap, the district administration, police, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and other concerned agencies launched a large-scale rescue and relief operation. Police teams reached the spot without delay, while BRO personnel have been working continuously to remove debris and carry out search and recovery operations.
The administration stated that the process of confirming the identities of all the deceased is underway and detailed information will be shared only after official verification. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and rescue and relief operations are continuing on a war footing.
The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the public not to believe or circulate unverified or misleading information regarding the incident and urged people to rely only on official updates issued by the district administration.
According to the information available from the DPCR, Keylong, the deceased have been identified as:
Bir Singh, son of Suram Chand, Village Ghisal, Post Office Saach, Tehsil Pangi, District Chamba (approximately 35 years)
Bir Singh, son of Lal Chand, Village Shun, Post Office Udaipur, Tehsil Pangi
Budhi Singh, son of Sawal Das, Post Office Saach
Kamla Kumari, wife of Budhi Singh, Post Office Saach
Anil Kumar, son of Hari Krishan, Post Office Saach
Rekha, daughter of Mahender Kumar, Village Hilol, Post Office Shali, Tehsil Pangi (24 years)
Saurabh Singh, son of Bir Singh, Village Hasil, Post Office Saach, Tehsil Pangi
Anjana, daughter of Chain Singh, Village Satti, Tehsil Pangi
Soman Angmo, wife of Chhering Dorje, Village Chhaling, Post Office Udaipur
Aaru, six-month-old son of Chhering Dorje, Village Chhaling, Post Office Udaipur
Sanjay Kumar, son of Mohan Lal, Village Kumar
Hans Raj, Village Dharwas
One unidentified person, whose identity is yet to be established.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of the mountainous roads in Lahaul-Spiti, particularly during the monsoon season, when landslides and rockfalls pose a serious threat to commuters. Rescue teams remain at the site as authorities continue efforts to complete recovery operations and assess the situation.
