Rescue teams also recovered the damaged scooter and parts of another vehicle. (Express photo)A massive landslide struck an area in Sundernagar of Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district late Tuesday, killing six people as it buried two houses amid relentless rain in the region.Authorities fear more casualties as rescue operations enter the second day in the Jangambagh area of Sundernagar.According to officials, five of the victims belonged to two families living in the two houses, and the sixth was a man passing by on a two-wheeler when the landslide occurred. Rescue teams also recovered the damaged scooter and parts of another vehicle.Apoorv Devgan, Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, said, “Teams from the police, SDRF and NDRF are working round-the-clock to clear the debris. Four JCB machines have been deployed for the operation, and if necessary, breakers will also be used to speed up the process. As a precautionary measure, two adjacent houses have been evacuated, one of which sustained partial damage.”Devgan, who is supervising the rescue efforts at the site, said, “The priority is to locate the missing individuals and ensure no further loss of life”.Continuous rainfall and loose soil have made the operation extremely challenging. The search continued throughout the night under floodlights, with emergency personnel battling harsh weather conditions to remove the massive pile of mud and boulders.Meanwhile, all educational institutions in the Sundernagar sub-division will remain closed Wednesday as a safety precaution.Story continues below this adThe weather department has issued a fresh alert, warning of more intense rain in the next 16–18 hours. Extremely heavy showers are likely in isolated places in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi districts, while Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, and Una may also witness heavy to very heavy rain.Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay alert to the risk of landslides, especially in hilly terrain and near rivers. The district administration is monitoring the situation closely as fears of more landslides loom large in the wake of the continuing downpour.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Himachal Pradeshlandslide