At least 15 people have been confirmed dead after a landslide struck a private bus in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred in the Bhalughat area of the Jhandutta assembly segment. The bus, carrying approximately 30-35 passengers, was traveling from Marotan to Ghumarwin when it was hit by the massive landslide.
Officials reported that 15 bodies have been recovered from the debris. Rescue operations are ongoing, with police and district administration officials at the scene. Three people have been rescued and taken to the hospital. However, a police officer involved in the rescue efforts stated that the chances of survival for the remaining passengers are "bleak" due to the severity of the landslide. A "whole mountain came crashing down on the bus".
The accident occurred around 6:30 PM, when a portion of the mountain collapsed onto the bus following a period of heavy rainfall in the region since Monday. The bus was completely crushed by the debris and stones. Bilaspur recorded 12.7 mm of rainfall on October 7.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his grief over the tragedy. "The news of the devastating landslide near Bhalughat (Bhallu Bridge) in the Jhanduta Assembly constituency of Bilaspur district has shaken me to the core," Sukhu said in a post on X. He added that rescue operations are being conducted "at a war footing" and that authorities have been instructed to deploy all available resources. Sukhu is personally monitoring the situation and is in constant contact with the local administration, receiving minute-by-minute updates on the rescue operation. The Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased. The state government will provide all possible assistance to the affected families.
SDM Jhandutta Arshiya Sharma confirmed the casualties and stated that rescue operations are continuing. Local administration, police, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are working to remove debris. JCBs have been brought in to assist with the clearing.
