At least 3 killed, 20 feared trapped in India landslide

NEW DELHI: A landslide in India’s Himalayan north buried a bus with around 20 to 22 people on board in, with three deaths confirmed as rescue workers were removing tonnes of rocks and mud.

According to reports ten people have rescued from the site and so far, a local police official from Himachal Pradesh state bordering Tibet quoted as saying on Wednesday. He said at least 20-22 people are in the bus, but rescue team not able to get to the bus yet. It is still under the rubble, and rocks are still falling in the region.

A statement from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police said three bodies had been removed so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the state chief minister Wednesday and offered the national government’s support for the rescue operation involving the local border police and others.

Television channels showed images of a truck and cars mangled and half-buried in the debris as well as slabs of rock and bits of tree on the road.

Landslides are common in India’s northern Himalayan region, particularly in the current monsoon season when heavy rains lead to subsidence of earth and rocks.