Search on for 7 missing after two landslides in Kullu

People of Kullu town are in grief after nine persons were buried under two massive landslides in Inner Akhara Bazaar, one on Tuesday night and the other on Thursday morning. Seven of them are still untraceable while three others have sustained injuries; one of them has been referred to AIIMS-Bilaspur.

The landslide on Thursday morning triggered by relentless rainfall, tore through the densely packed lanes of Inner Akhara Bazaar. Seven persons were buried under heavy mud and rubble, including six migrant workers from Kashmir, and a local woman. Rescue teams recovered one body yesterday while Rashid Sheikh's body was found today.

This calamity came just days after a similar landslide struck the same locality on Tuesday night, burying two more individuals. Despite continuous efforts by rescue teams, no trace of those victims has yet been found.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), District Disaster Management Authority, local police and district administration have been deployed at the site. Rescue operations were briefly paused yesterday due to a diversion for another emergency but resumed early this morning as weather conditions improved.

Kullu Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nishant Thakur stated, “The rescue work is going on, but progress has been slow due to unfavourable weather conditions and unstable terrain. Narrow lanes and dense construction in Inner Akhara Bazaar have added to the complexity of the operation.”

The twin disasters have plunged the community into panic and despair. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as homes collapsed and debris swallowed everything in its path. The suddenness of the landslides left residents with no time to evacuate, especially in such a congested area.

Families of the missing are gripped by trauma, clinging to hope as time passes and rescue outcomes grow increasingly uncertain. Emotional scenes continue to unfold near the site with relatives anxiously awaiting news.

The local authorities have urged residents to vacate buildings in vulnerable areas and adhere to safety advisories as the threat of further landslides still looms. Temporary shelters and relief measures are being arranged for displaced families.

The district administration has assured that all available resources are being mobilised to expedite rescue efforts and safeguard residents. However, concerns have emerged from locals who allege that debris clearance is being handled by untrained workers. They claim that debris is being dumped onto houses that were not severely damaged, further worsening the situation. Residents have expressed frustration that their appeals to preserve undamaged property were ignored.