A landslide-triggered bus accident in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district has claimed the lives of at least 15 passengers. The tragic incident took place on Tuesday evening in the Jhanduta subdivision, when a private bus carrying 25–30 people was struck by falling debris following heavy rainfall in the hilly region.
Deputy CM confirms deaths
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri confirmed the deaths, adding that 18 people had been rescued from the site. "Fifteen people have lost their lives in the private bus accident in Bilaspur. It has been reported that around 25-30 people were on board the bus. I am going to the spot," Agnihotri was quoted as telling ANI.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his grief over the tragic accident and extended condolences to the bereaved families. "The state government stands firmly with the affected families in this hour of distress and will provide every possible assistance," he said, as reported by ANI.
Local police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and district administration teams rushed to the scene and launched an extensive rescue operation. Officials said clearing the debris was challenging due to the steep terrain and ongoing rainfall.
Leaders express grief, relief announced
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives, and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Authorities have deployed heavy machinery to clear the route and are monitoring the situation closely as weather conditions remain unstable.
Keywords: Himachal Pradesh, Bilaspur, landslide, bus accident, rescue operation
