At least 15 people were killed and several others are feared trapped after a massive landslide struck a private bus in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening, officials said.
The tragic incident occurred around 6:40 pm in the Bhalughat area when a large portion of a hillside collapsed onto the bus traveling from Marotan to Ghumarwin. The bus reportedly had around 30 passengers on board.
Rescue teams have recovered 15 bodies so far, and efforts are underway to locate others believed to be trapped under the debris. Officials said chances of finding more survivors are growing slim.
Two children were rescued from the wreckage and are undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bilaspur.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who was attending the Kullu Dussehra celebrations, rushed to the site late Tuesday night to oversee rescue efforts and meet the victims’ families.
Officials said continuous rainfall since Monday had made the mountain slopes unstable, increasing the risk of landslides in the region.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed their condolences over the tragedy.
Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
"Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said NDRF teams have joined local authorities in the ongoing rescue operations.
Jhandutta MLA J.R. Katwal confirmed that 15 people, including the bus driver and conductor, had died in the disaster.
Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal said police and district officials are on-site, coordinating rescue efforts with heavy machinery including JCBs and cranes.
An eyewitness described the moment the mountain collapsed, saying, “The whole hill came crashing down on the bus.”
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep sorrow over the incident and directed officials to expedite the rescue operations.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed condolences, assuring that the state government is providing all necessary assistance.
“The tragic bus accident in Bilaspur is deeply saddening and unfortunate. The government is conducting rescue operations on a war footing, and our thoughts are with the bereaved families,” Kharge said in a statement.
