7 killed in landslide in Manikaran Saheb in Himachal Pradesh, many feared trapped

MANALI: Seven persons were killed while many were injured after a landslide hit Gurudwara Manikaran Saheb in Parvati valley of Kullu district at about 1.45pm on Tuesday, officials said. Death toll may rise as many people are feared trapped in the debris.
Kullu deputy commissioner Rakesh Kanwar said a disaster management team led by Kullu additional deputy magistrate Vinay Singh Thakur has rushed the spot.Bodies and injured are being ferried to Kullu in local taxis.
Vinay Singh Thakur confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered. “We shall first look if people are trapped in the debris. The entire hill behind Gurudwara is fragile and similar but a small landslide was also reported here last year,” he said.
Despite sunny day, the landslide did not allow time to people close to Gurudwara run for life. According to local residents, the entire mountain face has a lose strata and is sliding slowly.
Manikaran is some 45km from district headquarters Kullu and is a pilgrimage for both Hindus and Sikh. Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims visit Manikaran every day. Manikaran has emerged as a famous tourist destination in last two decades and nearly five lakh tourists visit Manikaran every year.