Mandi: In an extraordinary tale of survival, a 20-year-old woman from Sharan village in Seraj Valley managed to escape death after being buried under a landslide triggered by flash floods in Mandi district. The incident occurred during the devastating cloudburst and subsequent flooding that struck the region late on June 30.

Trapped beneath a heavy layer of mud, stones, and debris, Tuneja Thakur found herself buried near her home as torrential rain swept through the valley. As panic spread across the village, she was caught in the landslide while trying to move to safety.

The Tribune reported that, despite being buried alive, Tuneja managed to carve out a small air pocket, which gave her just enough space to breathe. For the next five hours, she fought back against the crushing weight using nothing but her bare hands. Her relentless effort to survive continued even as oxygen became scarce and exhaustion set in.

While the young woman struggled underground, her family and villagers launched a desperate search in the rain-soaked terrain. Eventually, their efforts paid off when her parents located and pulled her out of the debris.

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The cloudburst and flash floods, which struck the Seraj region around 11:30 pm, left a trail of destruction across several villages in Mandi district. Among the widespread damage, Tuneja’s survival story has become a symbol of hope and resilience.

Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur met her last week, lauding her exceptional courage.