A devastating landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district claimed the lives of 13 people and left two others injured after a taxi was buried under massive boulders on Friday. The tragic incident occurred along the Udaipur–Killar road near Kadu Nallah, where falling rocks smashed the vehicle moments after it resumed its journey.
According to officials, the victims, all residents of Chamba district, were travelling in a Tata Sumo when the landslide struck without warning. Rescue teams later managed to pull out two injured passengers alive, while the remaining occupants died at the scene.
Passengers Had Waited Overnight Before Continuing Journey
Authorities said the Udaipur–Killar route had been shut on Thursday night following an earlier landslide, forcing stranded travellers to remain in Tindi village overnight.
After officials reopened the road for limited traffic on Friday, the passengers resumed their journey. However, only a short distance ahead, another landslide triggered a fresh rockfall, crushing the taxi beneath huge boulders.
Rescue Teams Launch Emergency Operation
Police personnel, district administration officials and disaster response teams rushed to the accident site immediately after receiving information about the tragedy. Rescue operations were launched under difficult conditions to retrieve those trapped inside the vehicle.
Bharmour MLA Janak Raj said district administrations in both Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti had been directed to speed up rescue and relief efforts, while police and emergency teams remained deployed at the site.
Heavy Rain Continues To Batter Himachal Pradesh
The accident comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to witness relentless rainfall, increasing the risk of landslides across several hill districts.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), more than 130 roads remain blocked across the state, while 64 electricity transformers have also been affected due to rain-related damage.
Among the worst-hit districts are Mandi, where 50 roads remain closed, followed by Sirmaur, Shimla, Chamba, Kullu, Kangra, Lahaul-Spiti, Bilaspur and Una, all reporting disruptions to connectivity.
Orange Alert Issued For Coming Days
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued rainfall over Himachal Pradesh. A Yellow Alert remains in force until July 26, while an Orange Alert has been issued for July 27 to 29, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts.
In view of the forecast, disaster management authorities have planned Familiarisation Exercises (FAMEX) in the municipal areas of Shimla, Mandi and Dharamshala to strengthen emergency preparedness and improve response mechanisms for future weather-related disasters.
