At least 46 people were killed and many others were injured when two buses of Himachal roadways collided with gusty landslides on the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway in Himachal Pradesh.

Officials say that the death toll could increase as more than 50 people were boarded in both the buses.

Cloud eruptions have severe landslides. An official said, "So far 46 bodies have been recovered and 25 of them have been identified."

They said that relief and rescue operations were stopped in the evening as there was a possibility of landslides. The rescue operation will begin tomorrow again.

While the bodies were found, nearly 25 of them were identified on the basis of SIM card. Jewelry received from the dead bodies and rupees have been handed over to the relatives.

On the other hand, a spokesman of the Defense Department said that two army units were deployed in the rescue operation. National Disaster Redressal Force (NDRF), Army and Police teams have reached the spot and JCB machines were also deployed there.

State Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh visited the spot and said that the rescue operation would continue till all bodies were recovered.

They said that eight people were traveling in Manali-Katra bus in which three people were killed and five people were rescued and they were admitted to the Mandi Hospital.

The administration has also released helpline number. Mandi Helpline number- 01905226201, 226202, 226203, HRTC- 01905235538 and 918001051.

One official said that there were 47 passengers in the second bus, and this bus was going from Manali to Chamba.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will bear the full cost of the treatment of the injured. They met the victim families and expressed condolences. Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, Transport Minister GS Bali and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anil Sharma also visited the spot.

Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said that the assistance of four lakh rupees would be given to the relatives of the dead, while Transport Minister GS Bali declared that the families of the Himachal transport corporation gave one lakh rupees to these families.

(Click here for Android APP of IBTN. You can follow us on facebook and Twitter)

Share This News

About sharing