Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Sept. 3: A devastating landslide struck the Jangambag area in Sundernagar subdivision of Mandi district on Tuesday evening, claiming six lives — including four members of a single family — and leaving one person missing, officials said Wednesday. The sudden landslip buried two residential houses and also trapped a passerby.
Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma said residents heard loud rumbling noises moments before the hillside collapsed, engulfing homes located at the base. “A massive rescue operation was launched immediately after the incident,” she said, adding that all six bodies were recovered from the rubble by late Tuesday night despite difficult conditions.
The deceased have been identified as Gurpreet Singh (35), his daughter Kirat (3), his wife Bharti (30), Shanti Devi (70), and Surender Kaur (56). The sixth victim was an unidentified man riding a scooty at the time of the landslide. Rescue teams are still searching for Rahul, another individual reportedly trapped under the debris along with his vehicle.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and local police responded promptly. The operation was closely monitored on-site by Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan and Additional District Magistrate Dr. Madan Kumar, and continued through the night under challenging weather conditions.
Nearby houses have been vacated as a precaution amid fears of further slope instability.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut, and Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal expressed condolences to the grieving families.
The local meteorological office has issued an orange alert warning of heavy rain in isolated areas of Mandi, Kangra, Sirmaur, and Kinnaur districts on Wednesday, while a yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain in Una and Bilaspur districts. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and follow safety advisories.
