The calamity, ignited by a dislodged boulder, has ignited both mourning and political uproar, with the opposition fervently demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.
A harrowing landslide incident in Chamba district took a devastating toll, resulting in seven fatalities and injuring four individuals after the vehicle they were traveling in plunged into the Siul river on Friday. The calamity unfolded near the Tarwai Bridge within the Churah area. The accident was precipitated when a massive boulder dislodged and struck the vehicle from above, sending it careening into the river.
Among the victims were six valiant police personnel hailing from the 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion stationed at the Chamba Border. Their identities - Rakesh Gora, Praveen Tondon, Kamaljeet, Sachin, Abhishek, and Lakshay Kumar - stand as a somber tribute to their service. Tragically, local resident Chandru Ram also lost his life in the catastrophe, as PTI reported.
In the aftermath of this heart-wrenching incident, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his condolences and directed immediate ex-gratia support for the bereaved families while ensuring the injured receive optimal medical care.
However, political controversy ensues as the opposition BJP voices demands for a thorough investigation into the accident. Hans Raj, BJP MLA from Churah and the party's state vice-president, castigated the current government for reopening a road despite repeated alerts about recurrent landslides in the area. Raj has issued a call for accountability and urged strict action against the PWD officer whose negligence, in his view, led to the tragic loss of lives.
The tragedy underscores the grim toll of this monsoon season in the hill state. From the onset of monsoon rains on June 24 to August 10, the state emergency operation centre reported a staggering death toll of 234, with 39 fatalities attributed to landslides and 97 stemming from road accidents.
As the region braces for further challenges, the meteorological office has sounded a yellow warning for heavy rains on August 12 and 13, predicting a prolonged spell of wet weather until August 17. The dire forecasts encompass the risk of landslides, flash floods, mudslides, and heightened water levels in rivers and canals, accentuating the region's vulnerability in the face of nature's fury.