Baloo school in Raghupur valley destroyed, roads cut off as landslides batter hills

A massive landslide struck Baloo village in Raghupur valley on Tuesday, destroying Government Primary School and reducing two gaushalas (cow shelters) and several apple orchards to rubble. The sudden afternoon landslip triggered panic, narrowly sparing 5–6 homes, but resulting in heavy losses. Livestock deaths included three sheep belonging to Hira Lal and a calf and two sheep owned by Jhagar Singh. With continued danger looming, villagers are being evacuated as a precaution.

Widespread rainfall has thrown life out of gear across the Banjar, Anni and Sainj subdivisions. In Ghaliad village (Banjar), 10 families have already been shifted to temporary relief camps.

In the Sainj valley, Machinena Nala faces persistent landslides worsened by erosion from the Pin Parvati river flowing below. Nearly 100 bighas of land are slowly sliding away, endangering at least 12 houses. Deep cracks have rendered the Sainj-Bakshahal, Sainj-Fagla and Sainj-Ghat-Parganu roads completely unusable. With the road network to four panchayats snapped, residents are now forced to carry basic supplies on foot.

Nearby, Sharan village in Raila panchayat continues to face unrelenting landslides. Thousands from Raila-1, Devgarh Gohi, Bhalan-1 and Bhalan-2 remain isolated. Locals, including former ward members, blame the lack of embankments along the Pin Parvati River for the worsening crisis.

Elsewhere, in Nonu village (Kushwa panchayat, Nirmand), a major landslide buried the entire orchard of Charan Das, along with his shed and toilet. His house remains precariously positioned, while neighbours like Surjeet and Rajiv Kumar are also at risk. Rajiv reportedly lost over 3,500 mature apple trees.

In the Kothi ward of Karad panchayat (Anni subdivision), a two-storey house owned by Tawe Ram collapsed. Fortunately, the family had evacuated just in time. With rainfall persisting, urgent mitigation, infrastructure repair and relief are needed to prevent further tragedies.