Nine people were killed in northern India after large boulders rolling down a hill smashed their vehicle, as seen in a dramatic video that went viral on social media over the weekend.
The casualties were eight tourists and their driver who were traveling to Sangla valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. Three people were reportedly injured in the accident, according to the Indian Express.
Videos by VICE
Some of those killed were traveling to the popular tourist village Chitkul from the capital Delhi, according to local media reports.
Terrifying videos taken by witnesses and posted on social media showed large boulders racing down the hill and smashing a bridge and vehicles parked on a road. The bridge instantly collapsed after being struck by a boulder.
The person taking the video was outdoors but sought shelter as the boulders tumbled closer. The landslides reportedly damaged houses and other structures in the village.
Two survivors of the vehicle that was hit by boulders shared a video shortly after and said they fell out of the windows of the bus as it was being hit. The survivors had blood on their face which they said was from rocks hitting them. In the video, they said they alerted police and emergency services.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur described the incident as “heart-wrenching.”
An official said it was a bright and sunny day, and the landslides were unexpected.
“The minibus rolled down a khud (ravine) after being hit by the boulder,” Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq was quoted as saying.
Heavy rains across India caused massive floods and landslides over the weekend, killing more than 100 people and displacing tens of thousands of residents. It was not immediately clear exactly what caused the accident on Sunday.
The Indian government pledged to make all arrangements to assist the victims’ kin and those who were injured.
Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi expressed his “heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives” and promised financial assistance.
