Mandi: Landslip on Kiratpur NH kills JCB operator

Mandi, February 20

A JCB machine operator died in a massive landslide at 6 miles on the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway in Mandi district today. The deceased was identified as Firoj Khan, aka Saleem, a native of Jarli village in Mandi Sadar tehsil.

Mandi Additional SP Sagar Chander said that the incident took place around 1 pm when the JCB machine operator was engaged in the road widening work in the area. A massive landslide hit the JCB machine directly and Khan was buried under the debris.

Sagar said that the State Disaster Response Force and the police, with the help of other excavating machine operators, led the rescue operation in the area. After hours of struggle, the victim’s body was recovered from the debris.

The police have registered a case against Rajesh, alias Rocky, contractor of KMC Company, under Sections 336 and 304 A of the IPC. “The highway was still blocked between Mandi and Kullu. Traffic was diverted to alternative routes between Mandi and Kullu, via Kataula.