SHIMLA/MANDI, Aug 13: At least 12 people were killed and 20 others trapped in the two buses at Kotropi area on Pathankot-Mandi National Highway near Jogindernagar in Mandi district in the intervening night of August 12-13.
The report arriving here said massive landslides and subsequent flash flood washed away two HRTC buses along with other light vehicles when they took a halt for the refreshment at 0100 hrs at Kotropi near Joginderngar.
Teams of Indian Army and NDRF along with Public Work Department and other people were working hard to rescue the trapped people. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Panchayat Raj Minister Anil Sharma visited the spot and looked after the rescue operation.
An official report here said that before the NDRF arrived on the spot this morning, seven earth movers and 50 PWD workers were already pressed to clear the muck as more than 20 to 30 bus passengers were still missing.
District spokesman informed that 12 bodies have been recovered from the rubble while four injured have been rushed to Mandi hospital.
The buses were in Jogindernagar and Mandi junction of NH-154 and were taking a halt for refreshment when the mishap occurred.
Eyewitnesses said Katwa-Manali route bus on the way to Manali and Chamba was parked outside eateries when massive landslides and flash flood washed it down, spilling the bodies, bus wreckage almost one kilometre down the stream.
The darkness and heavy rainfall hampered the rescue operation however many earth mover and local people were pressed to dig out the bodies in the debris.
Twelve bodies were recovered from the both buses including six women. Three bodies were recovered from Manali to Katra bus. The deceased have been identified as Suruchi Thakur (22) from Joginderngar, Neha Khadun Sarkaghat from Mandi and Vinod from Sadarmandi.
Five bodies were recovered from Chamba-Manali bus service and have been identified as Suresh Kumar Mandi Dadar, Babu Ram Udhampur J&K, Khub Ram Kullu and Pawan Kumar Manali and Kartar Chand Kangra, Subhash Singh of Katthwan J&K, Sagar Singh Katthwan, Ajay Kumar Kupoorthala and Mandeep Singh Vikasnagar J&K.
Seven injured have been identified as Manju (20) of Karsog, Shubham(21) Shimla, Suchitra(19) Shimla, Joyti Sharms (18) Shmla and Anita (23) of Jogindernagar, Beau Sharma of Patna, Bihar and Rakesh of Dharmshala admitted at Mandi Hospital.
District administration has released helpline number for any correspondence: 0195226201,226202,226203 and 226204. The district administration has also announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs five-lakh each to deceased and Rs 15,000 for the injured.
The Revenue Minister has also announced Rs four-lakh each to the deceased apart from the sum announced by the Administration. (UNI)
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