FURTHER DETAILS OF ILAM LANDSLIDE Kathmandu, 1 Oct.: A massive landslide on the Mechi highway on the way to Pathivara between Kutidanda and Harkate in Ilam district at about 9 p.m. on Sunday buried four vehicles, which are thought to be having a total of 12 passengers still inside them, RSS reports from ILam.. Of the four vehicles, two are completely crushed inside the landslide and two of them are partially covered by the landslide. Ten people inside the vehicles have been rescued while some 12 others are missing, said Baburam Khatiwada, the Chief District Officer of Ilam district who oversaw the rescue and relief operation overnight. CDO Khatiwada said the rescue work has been hampered by rain that continued until 2 a.m. Some 200 Nepal Army, the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel are involved in rescue work. Rescuers are searching for the missing people and working to remove the wreckage of two vehicles. They are also removing the landslide debris from the road, CDO Khatiwada said. The landslide has occurred on about three-kilometre stretch of the highway at different places and it will take time to remove the debris from the road. The landslide has been caused by heavy rains. A rescue team has been mobilized from Jhapa district on Sunday night itself, according to Jhapa district Chief District Officer, Narendra Raj Sharma. He said dozers and excavators have also been sent for rescue. The Mechi Highway is blocked and vehicular movement has come to a halt due to the landslide. nnnn