Six persons were killed after a huge deodar tree fell on vehicles following a landslide near Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib in Kullu district on Sunday. On Sunday evening, a tree on a mountain opposite the gurdwara was uprooted following a storm and landslide and fell on some vehicles parked, killing six and injuring three others, the police said. Sources said that victims included a tourist identified as Varshini of Vijya Nagar in Bengaluru, who came to Manikaran with her family. Her father Ramesh Babu was also injured in the incident. Two other victims were identified as Reena, a local resident, and Sameer, a native of Nepal. Sub Divisional Magistrate (Kullu) Vikas Shukla said, “A landslide took place in which a deodar tree fell on the PWD road opposite Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib. Six people were killed and three were injured. Some vehicles were also damaged. The injured people were rushed to the nearby Civil Hospital in Jari and efforts are on to identify the deceased.” Sources said that the spot was earlier encroached upon to build roadside shops. The encroachments were cleared last month. An officer from District Disaster Team said, “Even though the place was cleared of encroachments, the shopkeepers had again set up stalls here. A detailed report on why the tree collapsed will be sent to the high authorities.” Following the incident, a police team led by SHO Manikaran and SDM Vikas Shukla rushed to the spot. The field revenue agency is also on-site, assessing the situation and assisting with emergency measures. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur have expressed grief over the incident. The CM directed the district administration to extend all possible assistance to the victims and their families. He has also instructed officers to ensure that the best possible medical treatment is extended to the injured. Videos of the mishap are being shared on social media platforms in which people are heard saying that no help reached in the first hour after the tragedy took place. Congress MLA from Kullu Sunder Singh Thakur said in a sad incident six people were killed when a hollow tree on the mountain opposite the Manikaran Gurudwara fell on vehicles parked on the road.
