Woman buried under debris in Kullu, building collapses in Anni

A woman was tragically killed after being buried under debris brought in by a landslide in the Dhalpur area of Kullu town today. The victim, identified as 57-year-old Lata Devi, had reportedly gone to the rear side of her house when the landslide struck, trapping her beneath the rubble. Her body was recovered by police, homeguards and fire brigade personnel. Another individual was injured while attempting to rescue her.

Elsewhere in the district, an under-construction building collapsed near Anni bus stand. The structure was vacant since 2023, when a massive landslide damaged several buildings in the area. Anni SDM Laxman Kanet visited the site to assess the damage and oversee the relocation of residents from other vulnerable buildings to safer locations.

In Manali, a shop was swept away by the swollen Beas river, while five motorcycles were buried in the Loran area along the Sarli-Khalada road after a gabion wall gave way. Flooding in the Fozal nullah also washed away an electricity tower at the switchyard in the Manali subdivision, further disrupting power supply.

The Bhuntar–Ramshila road was blocked for several hours due to a landslide near Ramshila, while the Lug Valley road was obstructed at Tandari Kainchi Mour. The road to Shirar village suffered damage after a gabion wall collapsed following continuous rainfall. Water from the Beas inundated the road near Gammon Bridge in Ramshila and knee-deep water clogged the four-lane national highway near Kutiage in the Bhuntar subdivision, adding to the travel woes.

The situation remains dire as rivers, rivulets and nullahs across the district continue to swell due to incessant rainfall over the past several days. Electricity and water supply have been disrupted in multiple areas and routine life has come to a standstill. Schools remained closed for the fifth consecutive day, reflecting the severity of the ongoing crisis.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh stated that the continuous rainfall has caused extensive damage to both private and public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, government buildings, drinking water schemes, telecommunication networks, and power lines. She assured that all departments are working round the clock to restore essential services and minimise inconvenience to the public.