Himachal rain fury: One killed, several missing as multiple landslides hit Kullu; toll likely to rise
Rescue teams have so far pulled four people from the debris of the landslide. Of them, three—a man and two women—sustained injuries, while one person, a resident of Kashmir, was found dead in one of the collapsed houses.
PTC News Desk: Back to back landslides struck Kullu's Akhada Bazar on Tuesday morning after incessant rainfall lanshed parts of Himachal Pradesh.
Rescue teams have so far pulled four people from the debris of the landslide. Of them, three—a man and two women—sustained injuries, while one person, a resident of Kashmir, was found dead in one of the collapsed houses. The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The first landslide brought down three homes, trapping several people beneath the rubble in the densely populated Inner Akhada locality. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from the 14th Battalion, already stationed close by due to another landslide just 200 meters away, was rushed in under the command of Assistant Commandant Santosh.
Despite persistent rain, multiple agencies—including the NDRF, Himachal Pradesh Police, Home Guards, Fire Services, and local volunteers—are continuing coordinated rescue efforts to find and assist those still trapped. The tragedy adds to the widespread destruction across Himachal Pradesh this monsoon.
Official figures show damages worth ₹3,526 crore, with the state recording 122 landslides, 95 flash floods, and 45 cloudbursts so far. The disasters have claimed 341 lives, including 11 in the last 24 hours.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, after chairing an emergency review meeting, stressed that ongoing rescue missions are being given top priority. In Chamba’s Manimahesh, where 700 pilgrims were stranded, 70 have been airlifted, while four deceased have been flown to Pathankot aboard an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast some respite beginning September 5, with weather conditions expected to ease across the state. After weeks of relentless rainfall, landslides, and flash floods, normalcy is anticipated to gradually return, offering much-needed relief to residents and emergency workers. Still, authorities have urged people living in vulnerable areas to remain cautious and cooperate with ongoing safety measures.