A massive landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district today destroyed several houses with many people feared trapped in the debris. Visuals of the landslide show many multi-storeyed buildings collapsing, leaving behind a massive trail of dust.

Emergency response teams, such as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed to rescue those who are feared trapped in the landslide.

Also Read: IMD Weather Update: Heavy rainfall warning issued for Himachal, Uttarakhand, UP; check forecast for your region here

Meanwhile, at least 12 people were killed in incessant rainfall while hundreds of vehicles were left stranded after the Kullu-Mandi road was damaged following heavy rainfall.

In a video posted by the news agency ANI, a huge line of vehicles can be seen at a standstill. The alternative route via Pandoh was also damaged. Debris clearance work was underway.

Red alert in Himachal

Cloudbursts and landslides triggered by heavy rains claimed 12 lives in Himachal Pradesh, while another person died in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district on Wednesday. Over 400 roads are blocked and several houses have been damaged, officials said, PTI reported.

Also Read: 17 dead as under construction railway bridge collapses in Mizoram’s Sairang; rescue ops on

The IMD issued a red alert, predicting “heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated spells of extremely heavy rains” in six districts of the state, including Shimla, for the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, a moderate-to-high flash flood warning has been extended to nine districts — Shimla, Sirmaur, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Hamirpur, Solan, Bilaspur and Kullu.

In view of the heavy rains, all schools and colleges have been closed for two days beginning Wednesday in Shimla, Mandi and Solan districts.

Roads blocked, rivers swell in Uttarakhand

The water levels of the Pindar river and its tributary Pranmati in Chamoli district rose again following heavy rains in Uttarakhand, threatening to flood places located along their banks.

Also Read: Four dead in Uttarakhand landslide, schools shut; Himachal braces for more rains

Due to continuous rains in most parts of the state, rivers and streams are in spate and many roads, including national highways, were blocked for traffic, affecting normal life.

“Isolated very heavy rainfall is likely over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during August 23-24,” IMD had earlier said.

Schools in Dasholi and Nandnagar blocks of the district have been closed in view of heavy rains.