Infant Among Several Feared Dead in Himachal Pradesh Boulder Crash
Indiadailyupdate.com – Infant among several feared dead after a devastating boulder incident on Friday has left at least 13 people dead in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district. The tragic accident occurred when massive rocks crushed a taxi traveling on the Sansari-Killar-Tandi (SKTT) Road near Kadu Nala. Among the victims was a six-month-old infant, making this one of the most heartbreaking incidents in the region this year. The taxi had been carrying 15 passengers on its journey from Lahaul-Spiti to Pangi when the hillside suddenly collapsed, sending boulders tumbling down onto the vehicle.
Rescue Operations Underway
Emergency response teams mobilized immediately following the accident. Police personnel, local administration officials, and rescue workers rushed to the scene to begin search and recovery operations. One injured passenger was successfully extracted from the debris and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear the landslide and continue searching for any survivors trapped beneath the fallen rocks. According to Bharmour MLA Janak Raj, two additional people were rescued from the accident spot, bringing the total number of fatalities to 13, including the infant.
The timing of this tragedy made it particularly devastating, as the SKTT Road had only recently been reopened following an earlier landslide. Passengers had already been stranded overnight in Tindi before the road reopened, only to face another dangerous situation. The Udaipur-Killar stretch of the SKTT Road, where the incident occurred, is known for its challenging terrain and susceptibility to rockfalls, especially during certain weather conditions.
MLA Janak Raj maintained constant communication with senior officials from both the Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti district administrations. He emphasized that all possible assistance would be provided to the families of those affected by this heartbreaking incident. Government vehicles and rescue personnel remain on standby to support ongoing operations and coordinate relief efforts for the victims’ families.
This accident comes shortly after another similar tragedy on Friday. A woman from Kullu, identified as 49-year-old Sameshwari Sharma, was killed near Gumma on Pathankot-Mandi National Highway 154. She had been returning from the Simsa Mata Temple when a boulder rolled downhill and struck her while she was drinking water by the roadside. Seven members of her family were also injured in that separate incident, highlighting the dangers of traveling through mountainous regions during this season.
Authorities have advised travelers to exercise caution while using mountain roads in Himachal Pradesh. The SKTT Road remains a vital connection between Lahaul-Spiti and other parts of the state, but its narrow sections and steep slopes make it vulnerable to rockfalls. Rescue teams continue their efforts to clear the debris and ensure the road is safe for future traffic. The infant among several feared dead in this incident serves as a somber reminder of the risks faced by those traveling through these beautiful but dangerous mountain passes.
