Death toll rises to 13 in landslide in northern India
New Delhi, Aug 12 (EFE).- Death toll in a landslide in a mountainous region of the Himalayas in northern India climbed to 13 on Thursday, a day after several vehicles including a bus was buried in the debris.
The incident occurred around 12.45 pm in the Kinnaur district of the state of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, but rescue teams were unable to begin search immediately as the landslide continued for hours.
“Three dead bodies we have recovered today, and 10 bodies were recovered yesterday, and 14 people have rescued from landside,” Indo-Tibetan Border Police spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey told EFE.
However, the rescue efforts have been currently suspended due to heavy rains since 11am on Thursday.
The spokesperson said over 20 others were still missing and could be trapped under the debris, but “due to the weather conditions we have not been able to carry on with the operations.”
“So right now we are waiting for the storm to stop then we will continue (the rescue operations). It will take another couple of days,” he added.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, on his part, has announced 400,000 rupees (around $5,400) to the families of those affected by the incident and an additional 100,000 rupees to the kin of who lost their lives.
He added the authorities would conduct a geological study of the area, to find a long-term solution to the problem of landslides in the area.
Floods and landslides are common in the monsoon season in India, which lasts from June to September, with hundreds killed every year.
In February, a massive landslide triggered by a glacier breaking its banks killed at least 45 people while 160 people went missing the Chamoli district of the state of Uttarakhand, also situated in the Himalayan mountain range. EFE
mvg/sc
