Himachal Pradesh Landslide News: At least 15 passengers were killed in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district on Tuesday as a private bus was struck by a massive landslide, PTI reported quoting officials. SP Sandeep Dhawal said that 15 passengers were declared brought dead in the local government hospital while two-three passengers were rescued. Bilaspur Superintendent of Police, Sandeep Dhawal, told The Indian Express: “The site where the landslide occurred was not among the landslide-prone areas in Bilaspur district. Rare incidents of stone shooting have been reported here in the past, but this hill has no history of any major landslides. Prima facie, the excessive rainfall today loosened the strata, causing the entire hilltop to collapse onto the moving bus. The vehicle belonged to a private operator, Santoshi Bus Service, and was a 32-seater. We believe there were around 18 to 19 people inside the bus when the incident took place. The situation will become clearer within the next two to three hours. The rain has now stopped, and rescue operations are in full swing.” 'Whole mountain came crashing down': 15 killed in Himachal Pradesh as landslide hits bus. Video shows ongoing rescue work at Bilaspur landslide site. pic.twitter.com/MP5cZ9p3bO — The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) October 7, 2025 A police official undertaking rescue operations said "the whole mountain came crashing down on the bus". The accident took place in Bhalughat area in Jhandutta assembly segment. Expressing grief over the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured. "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," a PMO statement said. बिलासपुर ज़िला के झंडूता विधानसभा क्षेत्र के बालूघाट (भल्लू पुल) के पास हुए भीषण भूस्खलन की ख़बर ने मन को भीतर तक झकझोर दिया है। इस भारी भूस्खलन में एक प्राइवेट बस के चपेट में आने से 10 लोगों के निधन का दु:खद समाचार मिला है और कई अन्य के मलबे में दबे होने की आशंका है। रेस्क्यू… pic.twitter.com/GBZslb36CP — Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) October 7, 2025 Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took to social media platform X to say he had directed officials to expedite the rescue operations, an official statement said. Police and district administration officials are at the spot and rescue operations are going on, the officials said. The bus was carrying 30-35 passengers from Haryana's Rohtak to Ghumarwin and so far, 15 bodies have been recovered from the debris. Intermittent rains have been lashing the area since Monday.
