On Sunday, 25th July, at least nine tourists were killed and three others seriously injured in a rock side hill at Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh. Heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides in the region, said, officials.
The tourists were mainly from Delhi and Rajasthan.
The incident occurred when the tourists were on the way from Sangla to Chiltkul, a popular tourist destination 250km from the state capital Shimla.
A video of the massive landslide sliding over the hilltop and damaging a bridge and highway has gone viral.
According to the Superintendent of Police, S.R. Rana said that rescue operation was on and the road has been temporarily closed for the general public. Nearly 50 vehicles were stranded on the road.
A doctor from Jaipur, Dr. Deepa Sharma aged 34, was posting some beautiful pictures just a few hours before her death. The last picture she posted with the caption “Life is nothing without mother nature”.
The Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh expressed deep condolence
Dr. Deepa Sharma from Jaipur and four people from Rajasthan including three from a family residing in Sikar were among the nine killed in the disastrous landline at Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh.
Expressing grief over the accident, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur had asked the authorities to speed up the rescue work and provide necessary relief to the next kin of each victim who lost their lives and those who were injured.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing deep condolence over the accident and had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next kin who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 each to those injured. He further assured that all necessary arrangements would be provided in the treatment of those injured and wished them a speedy recovery.
The Indian Meteorological Department has placed Orange Alert
As per Manmohan Singh, Director of Shimla Meteorological Department, fresh western disturbances approached the state, the impact would like to be visible in the next two days.
He further added that heavy snowfall could be expected in higher areas of Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur, Kangra, Chamba, and Kullu districts beside Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur during this period.
The temperature in the region has fallen from 6 to 7 degrees below the standard temperature and it can also receive heavy rain and hailstorm.
This is the reason the state has been placed under the Orange Alert till July 30th and people are advised to stay indoors.
The local authorities further advised the people of the region to stay away from rivers, drains, and areas where chances of landslides are high. They have also informed people that the disaster management team is ready for such a situation.
However, the Director of Shimla Meteorological Department mentioned that the snow clearing operations on road are in progress. The District Administration has also deployed adequate machinery and rescue teams especially for the tourist vehicles that were stranded in Solang Valley.
