Heavy Rains Trigger Deadly Landslide in Kullu, Five Still Missing

Shimla: A massive landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu town claimed one life and left five people missing on Thursday, while three injured victims were pulled out of the debris. Rescue teams are racing against time to locate those still trapped.

The incident took place near the Inner Akhada Bazaar area after heavy rains loosened soil and rocks, burying two houses under rubble. Police confirmed that the deceased’s body was recovered from the site, while the injured were rushed to the Regional Hospital in Kullu for treatment.

Personnel from the State Disaster Management Authority, the police, and the district administration are carrying out a large-scale rescue mission. Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashwini Kumar and Sub-divisional Magistrate Nishant Kumar visited the site to oversee the efforts.

The tragedy adds to a string of recent rain-induced disasters in Himachal. On Wednesday, six people, including four members of a family, were killed in Sundernagar town of Mandi district when a landslide destroyed two homes. In another incident the same day, falling boulders struck a bus on National Highway 5 near Rampur, killing two women and injuring 15 passengers.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who recently reviewed the state’s rain-related damages, has asked officials to intensify rescue and relief operations. He also directed district administrations to restore essential services such as electricity, water, and road connectivity at the earliest. “There is no dearth of funds, and the administration must ensure timely action,” Sukhu said.