Massive Landslide In Kinnaur District of Himachal Buries A Dozen Vehicles, 60 People Still Buried Under The Debris

Shimla, August 11 (TNA) Over half-a-dozen vehicles including a bus, with many people on board have been buried under debris after a massive mountain slide near Nugalsari in tribal Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh few hours ago, the Kinnaur district administration said on Wednesday.

Many of the buried people alive inside the debris and soil are appealing for saving their lives, said a local man on phone. Huge chunk of mountain came crumbling down, giving no chance to the people to escape the calamity.

Rescue teams with local people have reached the spot launching the retrieving operation.

Miraculously however, the bus driver has come alive from the still-buried bus and has been rushed to a nearby medical facility for immediate treatment. One more person, a driver of private vehicle, has also been rescued from the spot.

The rocks are still sliding hampering the rescue operation. The bus driver informed that more than 30 passengers were traveling in the bus trapped in debris and boulders.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has confirmed that between 50 to 60 people are buried in the landslide debris and boulders, according to the initial reports received by the government from the spot. He also said that many rescue teams comprising ITBP, Himachal Pradesh police and district disaster response force have reached the spot and doing their retrieving operations.

-- Nagender Ranta/Shimla