Bilaspur: At least 18 people were killed after a massive landslide buried a private bus in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening, officials confirmed.

The tragic incident took place around 6:30 PM in the Bhalughat area of the Jhandutta assembly segment. The bus, carrying around 30 to 35 passengers, was reportedly en route from Rohtak in Haryana to Ghumarwin in Himachal when a large section of a mountain slope gave way, crashing down onto the moving vehicle near Ballu Bridge.

 

According to Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal, 18 bodies have been recovered so far, including the bus driver and conductor. Rescue operations are in full swing, with teams from the police and district administration working tirelessly to locate any survivors.

Three people, including a child, have been rescued and hospitalised. However, rescue workers at the site fear that the chances of survival for those still trapped are slim due to the scale of the landslide and the volume of debris.

The area has been receiving intermittent heavy rainfall since Monday, which is believed to have loosened the hillside and triggered the landslide.

Leaders react, PM Modi offers condolences and compensation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and announced ex-gratia assistance from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Families of the deceased will receive ₹2 lakh each, while the injured will be given ₹50,000.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also expressed grief and directed officials to expedite the rescue efforts. “Relief and rescue operations are underway on war footing. All necessary support is being provided,” said a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also conveyed condolences and assured all help from the government.