Video Producer: Naman Shah
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
At least 10 people have been found dead, and 14 others have been rescued after a landslide struck the Reckong Peo-Shimla Highway in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, 11 August.
Several others are still feared to be trapped at the site.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) had said that the landslide occurred around 12:45 pm with several vehicles having come under the rubble.
Later in the day, the ITBP said, "No traces of passengers and the bus that was suspected to be trapped in the debris have been found after clearing the road in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. ITBP teams have gone towards the river (which flows near the landslide site) bed from multiple directions to find the bus."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, and a compensation of Rs 50,000 for the injured.
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(Photo Courtesy: ITBP)
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(Photo Courtesy: ITBP)
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(Photo: PTI)
The Rescue
Soon after the incident, ITBP personnel of the 17th Battalion, 19th Battalion and the 43rd Battalion reached the site to carry out the search and rescue operations, ANI reported.
"Around 200 jawans of three battalions of ITBP are at the spot where the landslide happened. The teams are waiting for more than one hour for the shooting stones to stop... The area is currently very dangerous," ITBP Spokesperson Vivek Pandey had told ANI earlier.
CM Thakur had said that along with the ITBP, the NDRF, CISF, and police teams were present at the spot. "Efforts are on but rubble is still dropping from the heights. As soon as it comes under control, rescue teams will get into action," he had initially told ANI.
PM Modi, Home Minister Shah Take Stock of Situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and assured all possible support, his office said.
Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Thakur and to the ITBP DG to take stock of the situation.
"Have spoken to CM Jairam Thakur and the ITBP DG regarding the landslide in Himachal's Kinnaur. The ITBP teams have begun the search and rescue operations. It is the priority of the ITBP and the local administration to help save lives and provide aid to the injured," he had tweeted.
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