As many as 13 persons, including a six-month-old infant, died a painful death on Friday after the taxi they were travelling in was buried beneath tonnes of debris triggered by a landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district, officials said. The ill-fated vehicle was heading towards Pangi from Kullu via the Udaipur-Killar route when a large section of the mountainside suddenly collapsed near Kadu Nala, leaving the vehicle crushed under heavy rocks and mud.

Photographs emerging from the accident scene showed the vehicle reduced to a mangled heap of metal remains, completely buried beneath a massive heap of debris. The driver of the taxi too died in the accident, who has been identified as Bir Singh.

Rescue teams rush to the scene

Officials aware of the incident said 15 passengers were on board the cab when the landslide ensued. As per preliminary reports, 13 occupants died in the accident, while one person managed to have a miraculous escape. A police team rushed him to the hospital for treatment. However, there has been no update on the current condition of the survivor. 

Upon receipt of the information, personnel from Tindi police station, the district administration officials and emergency rescue teams rushed to the scene. A large-scale search, rescue and relief operation was launched on a war-footing to locate survivors and recover the ones trapped beneath the rubble. 

Lahaul and Spiti’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Shivani Mehla confirmed the incident as well as the death tally, and said rescue operations are still underway in the difficult mountainous terrain. 

Road had reopened after landslide occurred earlier

Officials said the road from where the accident was reported had been closed on Thursday after a landslide, forcing the passengers to halt overnight at Tindi. After the road was reopened for commuting on Friday, the passengers resumed their journey towards Pangi. However, soon after this, a massive section of the hillside gave way near Kadu Nala, engulfing the vehicle within seconds. 

According to police, the district administration is keeping a close tab on the situation as rescue personnel continue operations at the site. As monsoon continues to batter Himachal Pradesh, authorities have reportedly pleaded with travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys through landslide-prone areas during adverse weather conditions and to strictly adhere to traffic advisories issued by local administrations.