Landslide kills 6 enroute to Hemkund Sahib

Six pilgrims from Punjab on their way to the famous Sikh shrine of Hemkund Sahib died in a landslide on the Rishikesh-Badrinath road in Chamoli district today. Six others were injured in the incident, police said. The landslides were triggered by explosions to blast rocks to broaden the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway, police added.

According to the police, a Tata Sumo carrying the pilgrims was hit by boulders near Joshimath today. While three of them died on the spot, the other three succumbed to their injuries in hospital. So far, the police has identified only one of the deceased as Preeti from Ludhiana.

‘‘It is possible that these people may have got down from the vehicle when landslides hit the area,’’ DIG Anil Raturi said. Sources said there was a possibility that some people could be trapped inside the debris. Rescue operation was on when the last reports came in.