Shimla: At least ten people died and fourteen others were rescued from underneath the debris of a landslide on Reckong Peo-Shimla Highway in the Nugulsari area of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday.
According to the information received, many people are still missing. Two out of the rescued people are said to be in critical condition.
As the reports poured in, it is believed that over 50 persons are feared buried under the debris.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq stated that several vehicles, including a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus carrying over 40 passengers, are buried under the debris.
The bus was on its way from Reckong Peo in Kinnaur to Shimla. The Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local rescue teams are carrying out the rescue operations.
Sadiq also said shooting stones are still falling which is creating problems in carrying out the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, taking to Twitter Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he spoke to the Himachal Chief Minister and assured all possible support in the ongoing rescue operations.
"PM @narendramodi spoke to Himachal Pradesh CM @jairamthakurbjp regarding the situation in the wake of the landslide in Kinnaur. PM assured all possible support in the ongoing rescue operations," Modi tweeted.
Home Minister Amit Shah also took to Twitter and said that he spoke to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and said that it is the responsibility of the ITBP and the local administration to carry out the rescue operations and provide treatment to the injured people.
Earlier, a 22-year-old man died and two others were injured in a landslide that hit Himachal Pradesh's Solan district on Tuesday. The landslide occurred near Laddoo due to which the Nahan-Kumharhatti NH-907-A was blocked for several hours. Himachal Pradesh has witnessed over 30 major landslides since the arrival of the monsoon in the state.
READ: Himachal: Over 221 people stranded following Cloudburst in Lahaul-Spiti
With input from agency