Munish Sood
Kullu: In the aftermath of a massive landslide that struck the densely populated Inner Akhara Bazaar of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh early Thursday morning, rescue operations are ongoing as the death toll climbs and hopes of finding survivors fade.
At around 6.30 am on Thursday, heavy monsoon rains triggered a sudden landslide that reduced two residential houses to rubble in Inner Akhara Bazaar, burying at least 10 people under the debris.
Rescue teams, comprising the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire services, police and local administration, rushed to the site. In the first phase of operations, one body was recovered and three people were pulled out alive. One of the injured, 30-year-old Mehraj Laul from Bandipora in Kashmir, later succumbed to his injuries, marking the first confirmed fatality.
On Friday, rescuers recovered three more bodies. Among them was Suman Sharma, whose remains were found intact, while Sajid Ahmad Wani from Kashmir was recovered in a mutilated state, with one arm missing. Only partial remains of another victim, identified as Rashid, were found.
Officials said three more people are still feared trapped, as debris removal continues with advanced equipment.
Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh confirmed that heavy machinery, including excavators, has been deployed to speed up the operation. Authorities also evacuated several nearby homes and residents from the Math area above the bazaar, fearing further slope instability.
Temporary shelters have been set up at a local gurdwara to house displaced families.
Locals have long warned of the dangers in Akhara Bazaar. Residents allege that unchecked construction in the Math area, poor drainage, and mismanaged sewage flows have weakened the hill’s strata over time. Repeated requests for protective walls and slope stabilisation went unanswered.
“We raised our voices for years, but nothing concrete was done,” said one local resident, accusing both officials and politicians of negligence.
This tragedy is part of a larger monsoon disaster unfolding across Himachal Pradesh. In recent days, 11 people have died statewide— seven in Mandi, two in Shimla and two in Kullu. Since the onset of monsoon, the state has recorded 122 landslides, 95 flashfloods and 45 cloudbursts, resulting in at least 341 deaths and damages worth more than Rs 3,500 crore.
The state government has declared Himachal Pradesh a “disaster-hit state” under the Disaster Management Act, enabling faster relief and central assistance.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed district authorities to intensify relief operations and ensure uninterrupted supplies of electricity, water, and road connectivity. He assured that financial constraints would not delay recovery efforts and emphasised restoring access to apple-producing regions to minimise economic losses.
