Munish Sood
MANDI: Heavy overnight rain triggered a deadly landslide in Bregata village of Boi panchayat under Sundernagar subdivision of Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, leaving three members of a family d*ead.
According to officials, the incident occurred late Monday night when the house of Khub Chand, son of Dhaniram, was struck by a massive landslide and reduced to rubble. At the time, three women from the family were inside. Despite rescue efforts by villagers and local authorities, all three were found d*ead under the debris.
The victims have been identified as Kamla Devi (34), her daughter Vishm (8) and her mother Tango Devi (64). Kamla Devi was married in Kandi village of Jarl panchayat but had been staying with her maternal family in Bregata.
The alarm was first raised by local resident Shanti Devi, who rushed to alert neighbours after hearing the sudden crash. “It was pitch dark and we could only hear the rumbling of rocks. By the time we reached, the house had been buried under the landslide,” she said, fighting back tears.
The loss of lives has cast a shadow over the entire village. Residents gathered at the site early in the morning, offering support to the grieving family. Villagers said the three generations of women were inseparable and their sudden loss has left an unfillable void.
“This is not just one family’s tragedy — it is a blow to the entire community,” said a villager, adding that fear of further landslides still looms large amid continuing rains.
Local authorities rushed to the spot soon after the incident. Rescue teams retrieved the bodies with the help of villagers in the early hours of Monday. The Sundernagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate confirmed that immediate relief measures have been initiated and compensation as per government norms will be provided to the affected family.
“The administration is on alert. We are assessing the damage and monitoring the situation closely to prevent further loss of life,” he said.
Himachal Pradesh has been grappling with frequent landslides this monsoon. Mandi district, in particular, has witnessed repeated incidents of houses collapsing, road blockages, and loss of life. Experts have long warned that unplanned construction, coupled with extreme weather patterns, has increased the region’s vulnerability to such disasters.
