Many people were feared buried in yet another major landslide on the National Highway 5 in Himachal Pradesh's remote Kinnaur district on Wednesday, police said. A state roadways bus and several vehicles were buried in the landslide that occurred over a larger stretch on the highway near Nigulsari, 61 km from Reckong Peo, the district headquarters of Kinnaur.
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus was on its way to Hardwar from Rekong Peo via Shimla. However, there was no official confirmation about the number of passengers on the bus. Reports suggest that the bus carried more than 40 people.
One person is said to have died and around 30 people are said to be buried under debris after a landslide left the bus ambushed this noon.
The landslide occurred around 12.45 pm.
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The bus was travelling to Shimla carrying 40 people on it and around 25 to 30 commuters are suspected to have been trapped under the debris. Six travellers, including the driver and conductor, have been rescued and are being treated in hospital, a report said.
Teams of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been sent to the area for rescue operations. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had also been called in.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told reporters in Shimla that he directed the Kinnaur administration to speed up relief and rescue operations.
"The exact casualties in the landslide are yet to be ascertained. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) has been summoned to rescue the people," he said.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have assured full support to Mr Thakur, said a government source.
Over the past week, continuous heavy rain in the state has resulted in many landslides in several parts of Himachal.
(With inputs from IANS)