At least 13 people were killed after a massive boulder crashed onto a moving Tata Sumo in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district on Friday, officials said.
The accident took place at Kadu Nallah on the Killar–Udaipur road in the tribal Pangi valley when a huge section of the hillside reportedly gave way, crushing the vehicle. Bharmour-Pangi MLA Dr Janak Raj confirmed that all 13 occupants of the Tata Sumo died in the incident.
Rescue teams were rushed to the spot and relief operations are underway. Authorities are working to clear debris and recover the bodies from the mangled vehicle.
The tragedy comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to witness monsoon activity. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), monsoon conditions are expected to remain normal across the state until July 26.
The weather office has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in various districts between July 23 and July 26. It has also forecast an intensification of monsoon activity from July 27, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely across the state between July 27 and 29.
The ongoing monsoon has already brought down temperatures by around 4-5 degrees Celsius in many parts of Himachal Pradesh. While temperatures are expected to remain near normal until July 26, they are likely to dip further as rainfall intensifies from July 27.
The Killar–Udaipur road passes through rugged, landslide-prone terrain and is particularly vulnerable to rockfalls during the monsoon season. Authorities are expected to issue a detailed statement once rescue operations are completed.
Source: India Today