Shillai, Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh
A landslide during mining operations in the Shillai area of Sirmaur district has claimed the lives of three people, leaving their families devastated. The incident occurred near Kafota in Tilordhar on Tuesday afternoon when a massive amount of debris and rocks suddenly slid down, trapping three people.
Soon after receiving information about the accident, the administration and rescue teams rushed to the site. After a rescue operation that lasted nearly 10 hours, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recovered the bodies of all three victims.
The rescue operation involved NDRF personnel, police teams and local residents. The operation was particularly challenging due to the mountainous terrain, continuously shifting debris and adverse weather conditions. Once the weather improved, rescue efforts were intensified to reach the people trapped beneath the debris.
Apart from the loss of lives, two vehicles and an LNT machine were also damaged in the incident. The accident has raised concerns about safety arrangements in mining areas, particularly during the monsoon season when mining activities in hilly regions can become more dangerous. An administrative investigation into the cause of the accident and the implementation of safety standards is also likely.
Two of the deceased have been identified as Anil Kumar, a resident of Badwas and reportedly a tipper driver, and Dhan Singh, a resident of Bedkot Municipality in Kanchanpur district, Nepal. The identity of the third victim is expected to be confirmed later.
Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Verma, Shillai SDM Jaspal, and other officials were present at the site and monitored the rescue and relief operations.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the need to ensure the safety of workers and machinery involved in mining activities during the rainy season. The incident may also lead to demands at the local level for stricter monitoring of mining operations and stronger safety arrangements in vulnerable hilly areas.
