Six people, including four members of a family, lost their lives after a massive landslide buried two houses in Sundernagar town of Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, police said on Wednesday.

Rescue teams have so far recovered five bodies from the debris. 

The deceased have been identified as Gurpreet Singh (35), his wife Bharti (30), their three-year-old daughter Kirat, Gurpreet’s 70-year-old mother Shanti Devi, and 56-year-old Surender Kaur.

The sixth victim, who happened to be passing through the area on a scooter when the hillside collapsed, is still missing.

Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said personnel from the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in clearing the debris.

“Four JCB machines have been deployed for the operation. As a precaution, two nearby houses have been evacuated, one of which has sustained partial damage,” he added.

Continuous rainfall and recurrent mudslides are hampering rescue efforts. The administration has ordered the closure of all educational institutions in Sundernagar subdivision on Wednesday as a safety measure.

Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma said local residents reported hearing loud rumbling noises just before the hillside gave way.

Expressing grief, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called the incident “extremely tragic and heart-wrenching.”

“There is a possibility that two more people are still trapped under the debris, and search operations are continuing on a war footing. In this disaster, two houses have also been destroyed,” he posted on X.

“The administration is present on the spot and rescue operations are being carried out with urgency. A detailed report has been sought from the district authorities. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families. May the departed souls rest in peace, and may God give strength to the families to bear this immense loss,” he added.