7 killed, 35 feared dead in landslide in Himachal’s Mandi, Modi condoles deaths
At least 7 bus passengers were killed and more than 35 are feared dead as a massive landslide triggered by a cloudburst swept away a few vehicles including two buses in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh shortly after Sunday midnight. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “pained by the loss of lives” due to the landslide.
The landslide that took place around 1.15am also damaged a 100-metre patch of the Mandi-Pathankot national highway 154 at Kotrupi village of Padhar, 35 km from Mandi town.
“The possibility of the death toll increasing cannot be ruled out. Around 35 people are feared trapped,” Himachal Pradesh transport minister GS Bali said.
Two Himachal Roadways buses were caught in the landslide. One of the buses was going from Manali to Katra and another from Chamba to Manali. The fate of the other passengers was not immediately known.
The buses had halted for a tea break at Kotrupi at night when the tragedy struck, said state special secretary (disaster) DD Sharma.
