Himachal Pradesh: 13 Killed As Boulder Falls On Vehicle; Mountain Collapses Due To Landslide

Shimla: Thirteen people lost their lives in a severe road accident on Friday in the tribal district of Himachal Pradesh. The incident took place in the Udaipur police station area when a Tata Sumo vehicle was struck by a massive rock that suddenly fell from the hillside near Kadhunala-Rahauli on the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) main road. Thirteen occupants of the vehicle died, while two others sustained injuries. Both injured individuals have been taken to the hospital for treatment. Reports indicate that a large section of the rock broke off and fell due to a landslide.
The Tata Sumo vehicle involved in the accident was traveling from Kullu to Pangi and was being used as a taxi. There were 15 people on board, including the driver, Bir Singh. As the vehicle reached the Rahauli area near Kadhunala, a massive rock suddenly fell directly onto it from the hillside. The impact was so severe that most of the passengers died on the spot, and the vehicle was completely destroyed.
The accident occurred at a time when incidents of landslides and rockfalls are on the rise in the state due to continuous rainfall. Consequently, the administration has urged people to exercise extreme caution while traveling on mountain roads during inclement weather and has advised them to check road and weather conditions before setting out.

How did Police, Administration, and Locals react? 

Upon receiving news of the accident, the police, administration, and local residents immediately launched relief and rescue operations. The injured were extricated and sent to the hospital. Officials stated that the process of identifying the deceased is underway; once identification is complete, post-mortem examinations will be conducted, and the bodies will be handed over to their families. All the deceased were residents of the Pangi region in Chamba district.
Meanwhile, Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner Kiran Bhadana provided details of the accident, stating that 13 people traveling in the vehicle lost their lives, while two others were injured and have been safely rescued. She mentioned that the accident occurred in the border area between the Pangi region of Chamba district and Lahaul-Spiti district. According to preliminary information, all the deceased were residents of the Pangi region in Chamba district. She added that the Tindi police post and the Udaipur police station are present at the scene and are taking the necessary action.