A landslide caused by a heavy monsoon rain has buried 2 buses in mud causing death of 46 people and 10 people are missing.

Mandi deputy commissioner Sandeep Kadam said a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and army has recovered 46 bodies from the heap of mud in the site. The rescuers have also pulled 5 people alive from the rubble and they were immediately rushed to zonal hospital.

The landslide has took place around 1.15 a.m at kotrupi village washed away 2 buses of Himachal Road Transportation Corporation, two cars and a motor cycle. Five houses were also damaged.

The rescue operations were delayed in the late evening as there were chances for more landslides. The rescue work may resume on Monday.

Himachal transportation minister G.S Bali said that the toll could rise, it is believed that at least 10 people are struck under the landslide debris.

Most of the victims are believed to be passengers from the 2 buses, the tragedy struck when the buses had halted for a tea break.

The katra bound ac bus was hit by a boulder that came from a hill top. The bus rolled 200 meters down a gorge. The other ill fated bus was swept 2 km down the hill.

The state government has also announced an ex-gratia of 5 lakhs to the family of deceased.

The prime minister narendra modi has also tweeted that “Pained by the loss of lives due to landslide related accidents in himachal pradesh’s mandi district. My condolences to the family of deceased”.

By A.s