Massive landslide devours multiple houses in Himachal Pradesh, many feared trapped
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Shimla: A massive landslide wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district today, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Numerous houses were obliterated by the force of the landslide, and there are fears that many residents might be trapped under the debris.
The visuals from the scene depict multi-storeyed buildings crumbling amidst a cloud of dust, painting a grim picture of the disaster.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed to the area to conduct search and rescue operations.
The situation has been exacerbated by the relentless downpour that Himachal Pradesh has been experiencing. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next two days, amplifying the existing risk of further landslides and flooding in the region.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, expressed his concern on social media platform X (previously known as Twitter), stating that despite pre-emptive efforts by the administration to evacuate a commercial building in Anni, Kullu, the landslide still caused its collapse. The evacuation, however, reportedly helped avert potential casualties.
According to senior Himachal Pradesh police officer Sanjay Kundu, there have been no reported casualties thus far. An evacuation drive had been conducted as a precautionary measure prior to the landslide, which may have played a crucial role in preventing loss of life.
The impact of the incessant rainfall extends beyond the landslides, with reports of cloudbursts and flash floods causing further distress among the residents of this ecologically sensitive hill state. Major roads, including the critical Kullu-Mandi Highway, have been severely damaged, leading to the stranding of hundreds of vehicles.
The scale of the devastation prompted the Himachal Pradesh government to declare the entire state as a "natural calamity-affected area." The government is actively assessing the damage and working to provide relief to those affected by the disaster. The toll on public infrastructure has been immense, with the ongoing rain havoc causing an estimated ₹8,014.61 crore in damages since the arrival of the monsoon.
As per government data, the deluge has left 2,022 houses completely destroyed and 9,615 partially damaged. A staggering 113 landslides have ravaged the state's infrastructure, upending the lives of thousands of residents. The heavy rainfall has claimed the lives of 224 individuals, with an additional 117 fatalities resulting from rain-related accidents, according to a government bulletin.