Shimla, July 24: A massive landslide of rocks dislocated from a mountain hit a Tata Sumo with 15 people onboard in Himachal Pradesh’s remote, rugged Pangi Valley in Lahaul-Spiti district on Friday, killing 13 people, including a six-month-old infant.

The area has been witnessing heavy rainfall for the past many days. The vehicle caught fire after it came under debris of the mountain that collapsed near Karunallah on the Udaipur-Pangi road. Two passengers managed to survive as they jumped out of the vehicle moments before it was crushed. The vehicle was on its way from Kullu to Pangi.

Deputy Commissioner Kiran Badana told the media that 15 people, comprising the driver, were travelling in the vehicle that was heading towards Pangi Valley through the Udaipur-Killar road, which was closed for traffic for a day earlier owing to landslides. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel launched the rescue operation immediately after the incident.

Bharmour legislator Janak Raj said the Deputy Commissioners of Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti had been asked to speed up rescue and relief operations.

According to the police, owing to the closure of the Udaipur-Killar road on the previous day, all the passengers were stuck in Tindi. After the road was reopened, the vehicle left for Pangi.

Pangi Resident Commissioner Amandeep Singh said rescue teams from the Lahaul and Spiti Police, along with local administration personnel, rushed to the spot. The Killar-Udaipur road, which passes through the remote Chamba region, is prone to landslides and rockfalls, especially during monsoon.

Rescue operations were challenging amid inclement weather and falling debris. The administration has appealed to the public not to believe in any kind of unverified information or rumours and to rely on information from the administration.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain in several districts till July 26.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu expressed grief over the death of 13 people. The Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul-Spiti to proceed immediately to the incident site and supervise the rescue and relief operations.

He also asked the Deputy Commissioner to provide all possible assistance to the next of kin of the deceased and the best of treatment to the injured. He wished speedy recovery to the injured.

New Delhi, July 24: In a major breakthrough in organised vehicle theft, the Delhi Police on Friday busted an interstate gang of auto-lifters and apprehended two thieves, with a history of committing such offences.

At least 11 stolen vehicles were recovered from their possession. The arrested accused have been booked under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The accused were identified as Sarfaraz, resident of Mehrauli and Rahul Kesharwani, resident of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

The auto-rickshaw, which the criminals used in stealing the vehicles, has also been impounded by the police.

The action against auto-lifters began on a complaint by Bobby Khan, who reported the theft of his Bajaj Discover motorcycle from Chhatarpur Pahari.

A dedicated police team analysed the CCTV footage of the area and carried out extensive local enquiries. Then, acting on specific information and technical surveillance, they laid a trap near CDR Chowk, apprehending two suspects.

The police recovered 11 stolen motorcycles along with the auto-rickshaw used in the commission of the crime. This has helped resolve 11 motor vehicle theft cases, registered across different police stations in Delhi.

During sustained interrogation, both accused disclosed their involvement in multiple vehicle thefts.

They disclosed that they used to identify unattended motorcycles and scooties parked in residential colonies and public places during late-night hours.

After stealing the vehicles, they either concealed them at isolated locations or disposed of them to prospective buyers after changing their identity to earn quick money.

The Mehrauli police team undertook scientific analysis of CCTV footage, conducted technical surveillance and took direct inputs from field staff for cracking down on the inter-state gang.

With the arrest of auto-lifters running cross-border operations and recovery of 11 stolen vehicles, this deals a significant blow to the organised vehicle theft network operating in the capital.

Hyderabad, July 24: Police in Hyderabad foiled an alleged attempt by Youth Congress activists to disrupt a protest by the youth wing of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) at Indira Park over the NEET paper leak issue. The Youth Congress has accused the BRS of showing fake sympathy for the students and youths protesting in Delhi and asked why they were silent on the issue till now.

Police detained Youth Congress workers as they gathered at MLA Quarters in Adarsh Nagar to march towards Indira Park.

BRSV, the student wing of BRS, is holding a massive protest at Indira Park in solidarity against the “brutal crackdown” on students and youth in Delhi who are protesting at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak and seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao will be participating in the protest against the Delhi Police’s crackdown on the students.

However, the Youth Congress workers tried to take out a rally to Indira Park as it alleged that BRS leaders were “shedding crocodile tears” over the “police brutalities” on students in Delhi.

The protestors were raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of the BRS.

The Youth Congress workers were led by former MP and Congress leader Anjan Kumar Yadav, who alleged that BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao has no right to stage such a protest.

He said that BRS, during its 10-year rule, had banned protests at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park but it was now using the same venue for a protest.

Yadav also alleged that BRS was showing fake sympathy for the students and youth protesting in Delhi. He wanted to know why K.T. Rama Rao, who had remained silent over the protests by students for the past 28 days, suddenly started expressing sympathy for them.

The former MP alleged that BRS and BJP were the two sides of the same coin. He said students suffered during BRS rule due to irregularities in intermediate examinations.

Police denied permission to Youth Congress for the rally and stopped the protestors from crossing the gates of MLA Quarters.

As the protestors tried to force their way, police detained them and shifted them to a police station.

Anjan Kumar Yadav and other Congress leaders were among those detained.