Himachal Landslide Buries Bus, 15 Dead in Bilaspur

A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh claimed the lives of at least 15 people after massive boulders buried a passenger bus in Bilaspur district. The tragedy unfolded in the Balughat area of Jhanduta subdivision around 6:30 pm, when the bus traveling from Marottan to Ghumarwin was struck by falling rocks.

The private transport bus was carrying approximately 30 passengers when an entire portion of the mountain collapsed onto the vehicle, trapping people under huge boulders. The death toll is feared to rise as over a dozen passengers sustained injuries in the catastrophic incident.

Rescue Operations Underway

Local residents immediately rushed to the scene to assist trapped passengers, followed by police and disaster relief forces. An excavator had to be deployed to tear open the bus roof and extract victims from the wreckage. By 9 pm, four people, including two children, had been successfully rescued and transported to a hospital in nearby Berthin village.

Area SDM Arshiya Sharma confirmed that rescue operations continue “on a war footing” as teams work through the debris to locate any remaining survivors.

Government Response and Compensation

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh for each victim’s family. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges posed by monsoon-related disasters in the Himalayan region, where heavy rainfall frequently triggers landslides and flooding in vulnerable mountain areas.