Himachal Pradesh Bus Landslide Tragedy: 18 Dead in Bilaspur

On October 7, 2025, a devastating landslide struck a private passenger bus in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district, claiming the lives of at least 18 people. The incident occurred around 6:30 PM near Balughat (also referred to as Bhallu Bridge) in the Jhandutta assembly constituency, along the Pathankot-Mandi national highway. The bus, carrying 25-35 passengers en route from Marotan to Ghumarwin (in Punjab), was buried under a massive cascade of boulders, mud, and debris when an entire hillside collapsed due to heavy rainfall.Key Details of the Incident

Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh: A landslide of debris and rocks buried a private bus near Ballu Bridge in Jhanduta sub-division. One child and three others have been rescued and hospitalised pic.twitter.com/HxB1pwrpLV

— IANS (@ians_india) October 7, 2025

• Location: Bhalughat area, Jhandutta sub-division, Bilaspur district.
• Cause: Triggered by intermittent heavy rains (Bilaspur recorded 12.7 mm of rainfall that day), leading to slope instability in the hilly terrain.
• Casualties:
  • 18 confirmed deaths (all passengers; bodies recovered from the wreckage).
  • 3 survivors rescued and hospitalized, including children; they are receiving treatment in Berthin.
  • Several others initially feared trapped, but rescue efforts have concluded with no additional survivors reported.
• Rescue Efforts: Local police, district administration, and BJP workers mobilized quickly. Operations were challenging due to the remote, rain-soaked site and the scale of the debris. Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed authorities to deploy full machinery for expedited recovery.

Eyewitnesses described a sudden mountain collapse, leaving little time for escape. A policeman at the scene noted, “The whole mountain came crashing down on the bus,” highlighting the bleak survival odds.Official Responses and Relief

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Expressed deep sorrow, announcing ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured. He stated, “Saddened by the loss of lives… My thoughts are with the affected people and their families.”
• President Droupadi Murmu: Called the event “extremely tragic” and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah: Voiced grief and assured support.
• Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu: Shared profound condolences on X, emphasizing full governmental assistance. He noted the incident “shaken me to the core.”
• Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda: Instructed Bilaspur AIIMS to arrange prompt treatment and directed BJP workers to aid relief efforts.