Tragedy in Himachal: Taxi crushed by massive landslide, 13 feared dead
A devastating landslide struck Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district on Friday, burying a passenger taxi under tonnes of debris just minutes after the Udaipur–Killar highway was reopened to traffic. Authorities fear that up to 13 people may have lost their lives in the tragedy.
The taxi, carrying an estimated 10 to 12 passengers, was travelling from Kullu to the Pangi Valley when a mountainside suddenly gave way near Kadu Nala, sending mud, rocks and massive boulders crashing onto the vehicle.
Taxi resumed journey after overnight wait
According to local reports, the Udaipur–Killar road had remained closed on Thursday following rain-triggered landslides. The passengers were forced to spend the night at Tindi while waiting for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to clear the route.
After the highway was reopened on Friday morning, the taxi resumed its journey. However, as it reached the landslide-prone Kadu Nala stretch, another section of the mountain collapsed, burying the vehicle beneath heavy debris.
🚨 A taxi travelling from Kullu to Pangi was reportedly caught in heavy debris near Kadu Nala on the Udaipur–Killar road in Lahaul-Spiti.
Initial reports suggest 10–12 people may have been travelling in the vehicle. One injured person has reportedly been rescued from the debris,… pic.twitter.com/oGSh54ZZNf
— The Modern Himachal (@themodernhp) July 24, 2026
Rescue underway amid fresh landslide threat
Police teams from Tindi, officials from the Lahaul and Spiti district administration and emergency response personnel rushed to the spot soon after the incident.
Rescuers managed to pull one injured passenger alive from the rubble, and the survivor was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Heavy machinery and earthmovers have been deployed to remove the debris and reach the buried vehicle as rescue teams continue their search for the remaining passengers.
District authorities said rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing, but persistent rainfall and the threat of fresh landslides continue to hamper efforts.
Meanwhile, Pangi Resident Commissioner Amandeep Singh urged people to avoid unnecessary travel on landslide-prone routes until weather conditions improve and authorities declare the roads safe.
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