Bilaspur, India – At least 15 people have been confirmed dead after a massive landslide struck a passenger bus in Himachal Pradesh, a northern state in India, on Tuesday night. The incident occurred near the Bilaspur district, approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Shimla, the state capital.
Torrential rains in the region are believed to have triggered the landslide, sending heavy boulders and mounds of earth crashing onto the vehicle. According to authorities, the bus was traveling on a hilly stretch when the disaster struck. Approximately 20 to 25 passengers were estimated to be on board at the time.
Rescue operations were launched immediately, with local villagers and rescue workers digging through the debris in search of survivors. As of Wednesday, authorities have confirmed the deaths of fifteen people, including nine men, four women, and two children. Three children were rescued alive and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital. Search efforts are ongoing for at least one missing child.
Sandeep Dhawal, Superintendent of Police of Bilaspur, stated that the landslide occurred in an area not previously identified as landslide-prone. He also noted that the continuous rain over the past couple of days was a major contributing factor to the incident. A police official involved in the rescue operations described the devastation, saying "the whole mountain came crashing down on the bus".
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his sorrow and anguish over the tragic accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences and announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured.
This tragedy is the latest in a series of extreme weather events affecting South Asia. Incessant rains have triggered floods and landslides across the region, including neighboring Nepal where at least 44 people have died due to mudslides and flooding. Last week, at least 36 people died in northeastern India's Darjeeling due to landslides and floods that also devastated tea estates. In August, flash floods swept away an entire village in Uttarakhand, another northern state in India.
Experts warn that the frequency of extreme weather events has increased in recent years, particularly in the ecologically vulnerable Himalayan states. They attribute this trend to human-caused climate change, which is intensifying the monsoon season in South Asia. The traditionally predictable rains now arrive in erratic bursts, leading to devastating floods and landslides.
