Jagran Correspondent, Pangi: At least 13 people have died after a major landslide triggered a mountain collapse and crushed a Tata Sumo vehicle on the Pangi-Udaipur road in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district. The incident took place near Kadu Nala on Friday, where the vehicle travelling from Tindi towards Pangi came under heavy debris and rocks falling from the mountain.
13 Dead, 2 Survive
In a post on X, Bharmou-Pangi MLA Janak Raj confirmed that out of the 15 people travelling in the vehicle, 13 are reported to have died, including a six-month-old child. Two passengers are said to be safe. Rescue teams from Lahaul-Spiti Police, the district administration, and other agencies have reached the site.
Speaking to ANI about the incident, Chamba Superintendent of Police (SP) Vijay Kumar Saklani said, "The victims were heading towards Lahaul-Spiti when they met with an accident near Tindi. A large section of the mountain collapsed onto their vehicle. As a result, around thirteen people lost their lives. Our team has reached the accident site...Those who have been rescued are receiving medical treatment, and the Lahaul-Spiti team is assisting with the rescue and relief efforts."
How Did The Accident Happen?
According to reports, the passengers had stayed in Tindi the previous day after the Udaipur-Killar road was closed. After the route reopened on Friday, they left for Pangi. However, near Kadu Nala, heavy debris and rocks suddenly fell from the mountain, trapping the taxi under the debris. Soon after the incident, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel started rescue operations and pulled out an injured person from the debris before sending him to a hospital.
However, the injured person succumbed to injuries during treatment. Soon after receiving information about the accident, teams from Lahaul Police, Tindi Police Station, Udaipur administration, the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the Superintendent of Police, and other agencies reached the spot.
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Bad Weather
The rescue operation remains challenging due to bad weather and continuous falling debris at the site. The administration has urged people not to believe any unverified information or rumours and to rely only on updates issued by officials and authorised sources.
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