Death toll rose to 15 in the massive landslide that hit Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district. More bodies were recovered by Sunday evening and as many as five persons were reported injured.
The landslide hit Mandi on Saturday.
Chief minister, Virbhadra Singh, who visited the site earlier in the day on Sunday, has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh each for next of kin of the deceased.
Two HRTC buses got washed away following a massive landslide in Kotroopi area of Mandi district early on Sunday. One bus was travelling to Chamba from Manali, and the other was on its way to Katra in Jammu from Manali.
Himachal Pradesh transport minister, G S Bali confirmed the development and said that around 50 people are feared to have been washed away in the tragedy. Rescue operations have been underway since 2 am in the morning.
The army and NDRF teams are carrying out the rescue operations, as many people are still buried under debris.
Mandi deputy commissioner, Sandeep Kadam said the possibility of more deaths could not be ruled out.
“The army and NDRF have been called while police, home guard and fire services have already been deployed in the rescue and relief operation,” Kadam said.
