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Key Points

A devastating landslide struck a private bus in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, resulting in 18 confirmed fatalities. The accident occurred in the Bhalughat area, with around 35 passengers on board traveling from Marotan to Ghumarwin. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed condolences and announced support for the victims' families. Rescue operations are ongoing, with local administration and SDRF teams working to clear debris and search for missing passengers.

Key Points: Himachal Landslide Bus Tragedy Kills 18 Near Nadda's Hometown

  • Landslide hits bus in Bhalughat area of Bilaspur district
  • 35 passengers traveling from Marotan to Ghumarwin
  • 18 bodies recovered so far from mangled bus remains
  • Rescue operations continue through night by local administration and SDRF
2 min read

Himachal: 18 killed as landslide hits bus; rescue operation underway for missing

Deadly landslide in Bilaspur claims 18 lives as bus gets crushed, rescue ops continue with PM and CM monitoring situation

"The mountain came crashing down on the bus, and the chances of survival are bleak - Eyewitness Report"

Shimla, Oct 7

At least 18 passengers were killed as a private bus they were travelling in was hit by a landslide in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur, the home district of BJP national President J.P. Nadda, on Tuesday, officials said.

The area has been witnessing intermittent rainfall since Monday.

The accident occurred in the Bhalughat area in the Jhandutta Assembly segment.

Around 35 passengers were travelling in the bus that was on its way from Marotan to Ghumarwin.

State officials and machinery have been deployed to clear the debris, and a rescue operation has been underway to trace the missing passengers.

Officials said that 18 bodies have been recovered so far from the mangled remains of the bus.

Eyewitnesses said the mountain came crashing down on the bus, and the chances of survival for passengers are bleak.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu expressed grief over the incident and extended his condolences to the bereaved.

He said that he is in constant touch with the district administration and has issued directives to expedite relief and rescue operations.

The Chief Minister has ordered that the injured be immediately transported to hospitals and that adequate arrangements be made for their treatment.

The accident occurred due to a landslide in Bhalu, near Barthi. It is reported that 25 to 30 passengers were on board the bus. The bus was completely crushed by debris and stones falling on its roof.

Local administration, police, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations, which continued late into the night.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the loss of lives in the mishap and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of those dead.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
So tragic! Just ordinary people going about their daily lives. The rescue teams are doing commendable work in such difficult conditions. Hope they find the missing passengers soon. 🙏
A
Arjun K
While I appreciate the PM's ex-gratia announcement, 2 lakh rupees is too little for a life lost. The government should also focus on preventing such incidents by proper geological surveys and early warning systems in landslide-prone areas.
S
Sarah B
Having traveled on these mountain roads, I know how dangerous they can be during rains. The authorities should consider temporary road closures during heavy rainfall to prevent such tragedies.
V
Vikram M
This is so devastating. Entire families destroyed in minutes. The CM being in constant touch is good, but we need better infrastructure planning in hill states. Climate change is making these disasters more frequent.
M
Michael C
The resilience of the rescue teams working late into the night is remarkable. Hope they can save as many lives as possible. My thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible accident.

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