7 killed amid heavy rains in Himachal; over 1,150 roads closed

Chandigarh: Seven people, including four members of the same family, died after a landslide hit two houses in Jangambag, situated in the Sundernagar subdivision of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. One person is still missing following the incident.

Officials said the victims included Gurpreet Singh (35), his wife Bharti (30), their three-year-old daughter Kirat, Shanti Devi (70), and Surender Kaur (56). Another victim, yet to be identified, was a passerby on a two-wheeler who got caught in the landslide.

Police added that a man named Rahil, who was also trapped along with his vehicle, remains missing, and search operations are ongoing to locate him.

Sources revealed that the landslide occurred late at night, severely damaging two houses and trapping multiple people. Three bodies were recovered shortly after the incident, while the death toll increased to six the following morning as more bodies were found during the rescue efforts, TNIE reported.

Authorities confirmed that one more casualty was reported in the afternoon, raising the total death toll from the landslide to seven.

Rescue operations continued through the night under floodlights, involving teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and local police. Despite adverse weather conditions, officials said rescuers are working relentlessly to clear debris and remove boulders.

As a safety measure, nearby houses have been evacuated due to the risk of further landslides, with the hillside still considered unstable.

Deputy Commissioner of Mandi, Apoorv Devgan, who is overseeing the operations, stated that four JCB machines have been deployed and added that breakers could be used if necessary to speed up the process. He emphasised that locating the missing person and preventing any further loss of life remain the top priorities.

Superintendent of Police, Mandi, Sakshi Verma, stated that local residents reported hearing loud rumbling noises just before the hillside collapsed, burying the nearby houses.

The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert, warning of heavy rainfall in isolated areas of Mandi, Kangra, Sirmaur, and Kinnaur districts, while a yellow alert has been declared for Una and Bilaspur districts.

In Kinnaur district, several vehicles were damaged after being struck by falling stones along National Highway 5, particularly on the stretch between Nathpa and Wangtu.

Authorities have ordered all government and private educational institutions, including coaching centres and nursing colleges, in Shimla, Kangra, and Sirmaur districts to remain closed. The state government has also urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel and stay alert to the heightened risk of landslides, especially in hilly regions and areas near rivers.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, around 1,155 roads, including seven National Highways, remain blocked due to landslides triggered by continuous heavy rainfall. Additionally, 2,477 electricity distribution transformers and 720 water supply schemes have been disrupted, causing significant power and water shortages across various parts of the state.