Mandi, Himachal Pradesh: The aftermath of the devastating landslide in Sundernagar, Mandi district, has turned grimmer, with the official death toll rising to six, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. Rescue teams recovered three additional bodies from the rubble a day after two houses were swallowed by debris.
Rescue Efforts Continue
The landslide, which struck around 6 pm on Tuesday, left homes buried and an SUV missing. Teams from the Indian Army, NDRF, and SDRF have been working continuously alongside local administration to clear debris and search for survivors.
Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said that two of the victims, a woman and a child, were initially pulled out alive from one of the houses but succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Another body was later found in the second house. “We are still trying to trace two individuals believed to be trapped inside, along with a car driver caught in the slide,” he added.
Eyewitness Accounts
Local residents described the terrifying moment when the hillside gave way, bringing down rocks and mud with force. “Two houses were instantly crushed under the landslide,” said a villager who witnessed the incident. Others reported that the SUV traveling through the area disappeared under the debris, and attempts to contact the driver have failed as his phone remains switched off.
Officials on Ground
Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal, who visited the site, confirmed that five residents were inside the two affected houses when the disaster struck. “Three bodies have been recovered so far, while search operations are still underway for the others,” he told reporters.
Relief and Safety Measures
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable zones to remain alert, as more landslides cannot be ruled out given the continuous rainfall across Himachal Pradesh. Relief camps are being set up for displaced families, while heavy machinery has been deployed to speed up debris clearance.
The tragic incident underscores the increasing risks faced by hill states during the monsoon season, where fragile slopes and relentless rains often lead to calamities.
