Massive landslide in Himachal's Mandi; nine houses evacuated

Shimla: Directions were issued to evacuate nine houses in Ropru village in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district on Sunday following a massive landslide.

A landslide occurred in Kotli subdivision following intermittent rains over the past three days. A cow shed was completely damaged, while large boulders and debris remain precariously perched on the hillside, continuing to pose a grave and immediate threat to the village below.

Officials and the former Pradhan (village head) rushed to the scene and directed the evacuation of the nine houses that had been endangered. A video of the landslide went viral on the internet.

Hill-cutting work is currently being carried out at the location over the village, residents said.

Meanwhile, the local Meteorological station on Sunday issued a yellow warning of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds with speeds of 30-40 kmph at isolated places in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi districts on Monday and Thursday.

It also predicted a wet spell in the state over the next five days, even as the weather remained dry on Sunday and bright sunshine greeted the people.

Light rain or snow is likely at isolated places in the state on March 24, 25, 27, and 28, and at a few places on March 23, as a fresh feeble Western Disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from March 26, the MeT station said.

The minimum temperatures, which rose marginally, are expected to maintain the rising trend for the next two to three days, while maximum temperatures are likely to rise gradually by 2 to 5 degrees during the next four to five days.

Kukumseri was the coldest with a low of minus 3.1 degrees, while maximum temperatures witnessed an appreciable rise, and Una was the hottest during the day with a high of 30.2 degrees Celsius.