11 die in India landslide

At least 11 people were killed and more than 30 others feared buried after a huge landslide struck a passenger bus and few other vehicles in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, reports UNB.

The tragedy occurred on the Reckong Peo-Shimla highway in the state's Kinnaur district, some 200 kms from Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla.
Apart from the local police, the para-military Indo-Tibetan Border Force (ITBP) was soon pressed into rescue operations. So far, 13 people have been rescued, officials said.

"A landslide reported on Reckong Peo- Shimla Highway in #Kinnaur District in Himachal Pradesh today... One truck, a HRTC Bus and few vehicles reported came under the rubble. Many people reported trapped," the ITBP tweeted.

"The bodies of the deceased have been sent to a nearby hospital. Those rescued were also taken to the same medical facility for treatment," a police official told the media.

The Indian Prime Minister's Office tweeted to say that Narendra Modi had taken stock of the situation.

"PM @narendramodi spoke to Himachal Pradesh CM  @jairamthakurbjp regarding the situation in the wake of the landslide in Kinnaur. PM assured all possible support in the ongoing rescue operations," it said.

Himachal Pradesh is experiencing the heaviest monsoon rains in recent decades. Just last month, another landslide claimed the lives of nine tourists visiting the state.

Not only Himachal Pradesh, the western Indian state of Maharashtra also witnessed heavy monsoon rains in July. More than 100 people lost their lives in the state in last month alone due to rain-related incidents like floods and landslides.

ALM