Terrifying video footage of a landslide in Sangla, in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh shows large chunks of rocks breaking off a mountain top and rolling down into the valley below.
At least nine tourists are feared dead and four injured following the freak rockslide from the high mountains of Sangla valley. The rocks tumbled down the mountain and hit a tourist vehicle that was on its way to Chitkul, a popular tourists spot in the Kinnaur district of Himachal, about 245 km from Shimla. According to some reports, nine tourists were feared dead and that the rockslide was caused due to the collapse of the Batseri bridge in Sangal Valley.
Chief secretary Anil Khachi confirmed the nine deaths along with damage to the Batseri bridge and a 200-meter highway patch.
With monsoons wreaking havoc in the state just last week, tourists had reportedly been advised by local authorities not to venture towards destinations prone to accidents. Some tourists, however, managed to evade the police and were heading to Chitkul, an official from Sangla.
Chitkul, a village located on the right bank of Baspa River, is the last village of the Baspa Valley and the last village on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route. It is also the last point in India one can travel to without a permit.
According to details released by police, four women and five men were killed in the accident. The list has been published in full below:
Senior officials including Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain have rushed to the spot as emergency operations to trace the bodies and provide relief to the injured have already started.
The incident took place around 2.15 pm on Sunday when the rock boulders suddenly started rolling down from the high mountain.
The panic spread all over the place as some travellers also raised the alarm about safety as the rocks struck pedestrians on the road.
A bridge on the Baspa river was also smashed by the high-speed boulders and rocks as massive damage was caused to the houses and buildings.
Further reports are awaited.
Only Saturday Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu had taken to social media and also tweeted a warning for the tourists to avoid travels to risk-prone mountain valleys and also destinations close to the rivers.
The incident occurred days after flash floods in Himachal Pradesh left several persons dead. Last week, the death toll from flash flooding and landslides caused by heavy rainfall rose to 13.
