Dharamsala landslide toll mounts to 5

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 13

With the recovery of four more bodies, the toll in yesterday’s landslide in Rulehar village of Boh valley, about 30 km from Dharamsala, has risen to five while five others are still feared trapped in debris.

Rescue teams, comprising personnel from the National Disaster Response Force and the HP Government, had brought out seven persons alive yesterday.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner Nipun Jindal said there were slim chances of survival of those feared trapped. Two of the five dead have been identified as Masto Devi and Shakuntla Devi. Masto Devi, her husband Bhim Singh and three other family members were reportedly inside their house when the landslide brought it down.

Eleven houses were damaged, nine completely and two partially, said officials. A panchayat bhavan, veterinary hospital and a community hall suffered damages too. In Dharamsala, the

residents who were evacuated from their houses along the Manji river yesterday started returning to their houses today after the water level receded.

Four houses were damaged at Bagli village and their occupants have been housed in a government school building. In Bhagsunag, most of the hotels fell vacant today with panic-stricken tourists vacating their rooms and new bookings being cancelled.