Shimla: At least 13 people, including a six-month-old infant, were killed after the Tata Sumo they were travelling in got crushed by heavy debris during a landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district on Friday.
The private taxi was travelling from Kullu towards Pangi when a section of the hillside collapsed near Kadu Nala on the Udaipur-Kilad road.
Deputy Commissioner Kiran Badana informed that 15 people were on the vehicle when tragedy struck. Two persons had a miraculous escape, according to reports.
Police, officials of local administration and rescue teams took some time to reach the remote site. Workers pulled survivors from the debris and sent them to the nearest hospital for treatment. Search for passengers was underway as machines worked to remove the boulders and stones.
The rear portion of the vehicle caught fire. Videos from the scene showed bystanders trying to douse the flames in the mangled vehicle.
🚨 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
The road had been closed a day earlier following heavy rains and a landslide. The ill-fated Tata Sumo, bearing registration number HP-01M-2210, was stranded at Tindi during the closure.
The taxi resumed its trip after the road was restored on Friday. Unfortunately, a large mass of mud, stones and rock came crashing down on the vehicle.
According to Bharmour MLA Janak Raj, preliminary information indicated that 13 of the 15 passengers had died. He said a six-month-old infant was among the victims.
The MLA urged travellers to check weather and road conditions before starting a trip. Advisories issued by the local administration during the rainy season should be followed, he advised.
