HP landslide leaves 48 people dead, rescue work on

Shimla/Mandi: At least 48 people died in the landslide that struck Mandi town on the intervening night of August 12-13. Rescue operation are still on as more bodies are being recovered from the muck. An NDRF team recovered four more bodies this morning. Deputy Commissioner of Mandi Sandeep Kadam said four more bodies were recovered this morning, out of which 33 have been identified. Two buses and few other light vehicles were washed down by flash flood at Kotropi area on Pathankot-Mandi National Highway near Jogindernagar of Mandi district on the intervening night of August 12 and 13.

Teams of Indian Army and NDRF along with Public Work Department and other people have been working hard to rescue the trapped people in the two HRTC buses and washed away in the downstream. The wreckage of both buses found buried and washed down leaving most of bodies trapped in the derbies and muck about one and half kilometre down the spot.

The deceased have been identified as Suresh Kumar of Mandi Padhar, Babu Ram (Udhampur, J&K), Khub Ram (Kullu), Pawan Kumar (Manali), Kartar Chand (Kangra), Subhash Singh (Katthwan J&K), Sagar Singh (Katthwan, J&K), Ajay Kumar (Kupoorthala Punjab),Mandeep Singh (Vikasnagar J&K),Chandan Sharma (driver of bus belonging to Balah of Mandi), Hem Singh (Mandi), Palak Sharma (Salooni Chamba), Shila Devi (Bharour), Muskan Sharma (Salooni), Manisha Kumari (Pukhari Chamba), Amit Kumar (Pukhar), Aman Sharma (Salooni ) Geeta Devi (Salooni), Devender Sharma (Bharmour), Sai Pal ( Nurpur Kangra) Som Dev (Bharmour ), Pankaj (Chachoga Manali),Pushak Raj Dhara (Kullu), Mandeep Sigh (Karnbagh J&K), Vijay Kumar (Rayav Khela Chamba), Madan Lal (Salooni), Pawan Kumar (Salooni) and Moha Singh Murang (Indora Kangra).

Three bodies were recovered from another Manali to Katra bus, which were identified as Suruchi Thakur (22) Joginderngar, Neha Khadun Sarkaghat of Mandi and Vinod of Sadarmandi. The body of a bike rider Sunny Kumar of Jogindernagar was also recovered from the muck. Seven injured were identified as Manju (20) of Karsog, Shubham (21) Shimla, Suchitra (19) of Shimla, Jyoti Sharma (18) of Shimla and Anita (23) of Jogindernagar, Babu Sharma of Patna, and Rakesh of Dharamshala admitted at Mandi Hospital.

The buses were in Joginderngar and Mandi junction of NH-154 when they had stopped for a tea break when the incident occurred. The District administration has released helpline numbers: 0195226201, 226202,226203 and 226204 and announced ane ex-gratia relief of Rs five-lakh each to deceased. The injured were handed over Rs 15,000 each. The Revenue Minister has also announced Rs four-lakh each to the deceased apart from the Administration. (UNI)