Shimala / Manali: The second large landslide at Himachal Pradesh in just 15 days killed 10 people, including a child and five women, and 13 others were injured on Wednesday.
Massive landslides between Chaura and Nigulsari, along the NH-5 in Kinnaur District, occurred at around 12:30 a.m.
The death toll will likely increase along with around 50 people feared trapped under debris and around 30 others are gone.
On July 25, a mountain sliding near the village of Batseri, in Kinnaur, has killed nine people.
“Search and rescue operations have begun at war footing.
A large number of victims are expected.
Landslides are still active, who have made operations very risky and difficult,” said Bhawanagar HR Manmohan Singh.
Deputy Commissioner Kinnaur Abid Hussain Sadiq said 15 people had been saved.
Rescue efforts are suspended due to darkness later tonight and will continue on Thursday morning.
Scouts Dogra will help in finding lost HRTC buses and Bolero SUVs afraid of being buried in debris along the steep slopes.
After landslides on Wednesday, a 0.2 meter expanse from the National Highway Kinnaur-Shimla was originally blocked by debris.
While the NH-5 has been cleaned, the traffic movement has not started when the last report comes.
According to administrative officials Kinnaur District, three small vehicles and one tipper (truck) recovered from the place.
CM Jai Ram Thakur said the rescue operation was launched from both sides of the location of landslides and efforts to save them trapped under the rubble.
He said the army team and two helicopters were called to speed up rescue operations.