Fourty-six people were killed and many are feared trapped after three vehicles were hit by a landslide near Padhar area in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday early morning. The injured were taken were taken to a hospital.
Rescue operations are reported to be currently suspended for the day and will again start on Monday. The death toll is expected to go high.
The landslide occurred around midnight and also damaged the Mandi-Pathankot national highway 154 at Kotrupi village of Padhar in Mandi district.
Commenting on the incident, Mandi deputy commissioner Sandeep Kadam said the possibility of more deaths could not be ruled out.
National Highway 21 from Mandi to Aut was closed for travelling passengers due to the threat of landslides.
The chief minister Virbhadra Singh said,”the rescue operation is on and Police is there. Army has been called. Local people also helping. I’m going there too.”
Meanwhile, two Search and Rescue teams of NDRF are operational in Mandi.
A 250-meter stretch of road has been completely washed away and the Mandi-Joginder Nagar road has been closed for traffic. Vehicles have been diverted to alternative routes.
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