Himachal Pradesh faces nature's wrath once again. A private bus was buried in a horrific landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal. It has been learned that the bus got trapped under the debris. At least 18 passengers have reportedly died. Several people remain trapped in the debris. The death toll is feared to rise further. Upon receiving news of the accident, the police, NDRF, and the fire brigade have reached the spot. Rescue operations are underway with wartime urgency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief upon receiving news of this disaster. On PMO's X handle, he wrote, “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. An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM”.
According to local sources, this horrific accident occurred near Ballu Bridge, close to the Balurghat area of Bilaspur district. A landslide suddenly hit the paved road. The private bus on the Marotan-Kalaul route was instantly buried. Along with it, a huge amount of mud and stone debris fell on the bus. Within moments, the bus got buried under layers of mud and stones.
Sources claim there were more than 30 passengers on the bus. However, the administration has not yet provided any confirmed number. A rescue team official said four passengers, including a girl child, have been rescued alive. The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment, and several of them are reportedly in critical condition. The administration has not yet confirmed the identities of the deceased.
Videos from the scene show rescue teams rapidly removing layers of stones and mud using earth movers. As soon as a part of the bus buried under the mud layer became visible, workers attempted to rescue passengers trapped inside.
