Himachal girl trapped under landslide debris for 5 hours fights her way out - ‘I had to come out alive’

Himachal Pradesh floods

Amid the widespread destruction caused by heavy rainfall and landslides in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district on July 1, one story of a 20-year-old woman named Tuneja Thakur stood out as she survived under the debris for almost five hours and came out alive, The Times of India reported.

Tuneja, a resident of a remote village of Sharan in Bagsyad valley, part of the Seraj Assembly constituency, was walking alone on a village path when a sudden landslide, triggered by continuous rain, came crashing down. Within moments, she was buried under a huge mass of mud and stones.

"It all happened so fast. I was near my house when I suddenly felt everything around me collapse," TOI quoted her as saying.

Every second, the mound of mud, stones and debris pressed down on Tuneja Thakur. Every second, she clawed back. Even as she gasped for air, Tuneja realised she would be dead in seconds if she didn't fight back. "I removed enough mud to be able to breathe," she said.

“Everybody ran out. It was pouring and floodwater was entering houses. People were screaming in panic. I stepped out looking for a safe place when a land mass suddenly slid down and fell on me just around the corner of my house,” Tuneja added.

Outside, her family and villagers searched frantically for her in the pouring rain, unsure of her whereabouts. Hours later, their prayers were answered, Tuneja was finally rescued by her parents and neighbours. "I just knew one thing - I had to come out alive," she said.

Both Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri visited the disaster-hit region and met Tuneja, praising her bravery.

“Salute to the courage of this daughter! Despite being trapped in a massive landslide, she did not panic. She fought fear with strength and saved herself. Her story is not just one of survival — it’s one of inspiration,” The Tribune quoted Jai Ram Thakur as saying.

Deputy CM Agnihotri added, “Her story will inspire every child in Himachal. Being trapped for so long and still surviving shows what true strength looks like.”