Video Producer: Naman Shah
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
At least 14 people have died and 13 others were injured after a landslide struck the Reckong Peo-Shimla Highway in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, 11 August.
Several vehicles came under the debris after the landslide. Remnants of a bus hit by the landslide were also found early on Thursday.
Rescue operations at the site were halted for a few hours on Thursday due to stones cascading down the hill, news agency ANI reported.
The landslide, which had occurred around 12:45 pm on Wednesday, damaged a stretch of 200 m of the highway.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced that the state government would provide Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, while Rs 1 lakh each will be provided by the Transport Department. "Critically injured will get Rs 50,000 each and medical expenses of people with minor injuries will be borne by the state government," he was quoted as saying.
Rescue Operations
Those rescued from the site were sent to CHC-Bhawanagar for medical treatment, ANI reported.
Soon after incident, around 200 ITBP personnel of the 17th Battalion, 19th Battalion, and the 43rd Battalion reached the site to carry out the search-and-rescue operations, it was reported.
Teams of NDRF, CISF and the police were also present at the site on Wednesday.
The operations, which continued till late on Wednesday night, resumed early on Thursday.
The wreckage of a bus, spread over 100 metres, was found by the ITBP troops at 5:25 am, nearly 500 metres below the road and 200 metres above the Sutlej river.
CM Jai Ram Thakur also conducted an aerial survey of the landslide-hit area on Thursday.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to the CM on Wednesday, taking stock of the situation and assuring support.
PM Modi, President Kovind Express Condolences
"The landslide tragedy at Kinnaur is very saddening. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover at the earliest. Rescue operations are underway and everything possible is being done to assist those still trapped," PM Modi had said in a tweet.
He also announced an ex gratia sum of Rs 2 lakh each from the PMNRF to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
President Ram Nath Kovind said in a tweet, "I spoke with Himachal Pradesh Governor, Shri Rajendra Arlekar & Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur to know about the tragedy at Kinnaur. I expressed my concern about people’s safety. I was told that all steps are being taken to bring the affected people to safety. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and I wish speedy recovery of the injured."
Several other political leaders also conveyed their condolences over the incident.
(With inputs from ANI)
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