15 killed as landslide buries bus in Himachal; several feared trapped, rescue underway

Shimla: At least 15 people were killed after a massive landslide hit a private bus in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening, officials said. The incident occurred around 6.30 pm in the Bhalughat area of the Jhandutta assembly constituency.

The bus, which was carrying between 25 and 30 passengers, was en route from Marotan to Ghumarwin, officials added.

According to officials, several passengers are feared trapped under the debris, while three people have been rescued so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who died and ₹50,000 for those injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

“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.

The region has been receiving intermittent rainfall since Monday, officials said.

According to Jhandutta BJP MLA JR Katwal, who was present at the site, 15 people, including the bus driver and conductor, have lost their lives, while the three survivors have been taken to the hospital.

Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal confirmed that 15 bodies have been recovered from the rubble and said that police and district officials were conducting rescue operations “in full swing.”

An eyewitness involved in the ongoing efforts recalled that the entire hillside collapsed onto the bus, leaving passengers little time to escape, reported PTI.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri have expressed their condolences over the tragedy.

An official statement said that CM Sukhu has directed authorities to expedite rescue operations and provide all possible assistance to those affected.