Sunil Negi
Kullu: Panic gripped Kullu district on Monday after a massive chunk of hill suddenly collapsed on a moving car in Ani area, leaving two people seriously injured and the vehicle badly damaged.
According to local officials and eyewitnesses, the incident occurred when debris from the hill came crashing down without warning and fell directly on the car travelling on the road. The impact was so strong that the vehicle was crushed under falling rocks and mud.
Locals and passersby immediately rushed to the spot and, with the help of police and rescue teams, pulled out the two occupants from the mangled car. Both the injured were rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment. Their condition is stated to be serious but stable. Authorities have not yet released their names.
The road was blocked for several hours due to the landslide debris. BRO and district administration teams were pressed into service to clear the rubble and restore traffic. Officials said a preliminary assessment suggests continuous rainfall and loose strata may have triggered the slide.
The incident comes amid unstable weather conditions across Himachal Pradesh, where frequent rain has made several hill stretches vulnerable to landslides and shooting stones.
The district administration has urged people to remain extremely cautious while travelling in hilly areas. People have been advised to:
1. Travel only during daytime* and avoid night travel in vulnerable zones,
2. Keep checking weather forecasts and road status updates* before starting the journey,
3. Avoid risky and landslide-prone areas*, and follow instructions of police and BRO personnel on the ground.
Officials said patrolling has been increased on NH-305 and other interior roads in Ani, Banjar and Jibhi areas, which have seen repeated slide activity this monsoon.
Prayers are being offered for the speedy recovery of both the injured persons.
Local residents have demanded installation of more crash barriers, early warning systems and regular desilting of drains to prevent such accidents in the future. The administration has assured that a detailed survey of vulnerable spots will be conducted once the weather improves.
