A catastrophic landslide struck a private bus in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening, October 7, 2025, resulting in one of the deadliest road accidents in the region. The death toll has now reached 18, with several others injured and one child still reported missing.
The Incident
The tragedy unfolded around 6:30 PM near Bhallu Bridge in the Balughat area of Jhandutta subdivision, Bilaspur district. A private bus operated by Krishna Transport, carrying 30-35 passengers, was traveling on its regular route from Marotan to Ghumarwin when heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide.
The hillside collapsed without warning, sending tons of rocks, boulders, and debris crashing down onto the bus. The vehicle was completely crushed under the weight of the falling mountain debris, with rocks and mud crashing through the roof and burying passengers in their seats.
Casualties and Rescue Operations
The final death toll stands at 18 people, including the bus driver and conductor. Among the deceased are nine men, four women, and two children. Tragically, the casualties include four members of the same family – a mother and her two children, along with their aunt.
Three survivors were rescued from the wreckage, including two siblings – 10-year-old Arushi and 8-year-old Shaurya (also reported as 5-year-old Shorya in some accounts) – who were sitting in the last seat of the bus. These children were immediately rushed to AIIMS Bilaspur for treatment and have since been discharged.
Search and rescue operations continued through the night and into Wednesday morning, with teams using JCB excavators to clear the massive amounts of debris. The body of one missing child was recovered Wednesday morning around 10:00 AM, bringing closure to the search efforts.
Administrative Response and Relief Measures
The tragedy prompted immediate response from top government officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced compensation of ₹2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund for the families of each deceased victim, and ₹50,000 for those injured.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu personally monitored the rescue operations and directed officials to expedite relief efforts. He assured that the state government would provide all possible assistance to affected families.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
Challenges in Rescue Operations
The rescue operation faced significant challenges due to continuous rainfall in the region since Monday. Heavy machinery including JCBs had to be deployed to clear the debris, but operations were temporarily suspended at 2:30 AM for safety reasons due to ongoing rain and the risk of further landslides.
Local residents and police initially attempted manual rescue efforts before heavy machinery arrived approximately 30 minutes after the incident. Some officials and locals have criticized the delayed response, suggesting that earlier deployment of JCBs might have saved additional lives, as several victims appeared to have died from suffocation rather than physical injuries.
Contributing Factors and Ongoing Concerns
The accident occurred during a period of heavy monsoon rainfall that had been affecting the region for several days. Bilaspur district recorded 12.7 mm of rainfall on October 7 alone. Local residents reported that debris had fallen from the same hillside two days prior to the accident, but no warning signs were posted or preventive measures taken.
Some locals have also alleged illegal mining activities in the area, though these claims remain unverified. The region has been particularly vulnerable to landslides during the monsoon season, with Himachal Pradesh recording over 470 deaths in rain-related incidents since the monsoon began in June.
This tragedy is part of a larger pattern of monsoon-related disasters affecting northern India. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by mountainous regions during heavy rainfall periods, where landslides pose constant threats to transportation routes and local communities.
The Bilaspur bus accident stands as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of hill communities to natural disasters and the need for improved early warning systems and infrastructure safety measures in landslide-prone areas.
