Massive landslide buries bus in Himachal, 15 dead, rescue on | Key updates

Bus got stuck under massive rocks, locals rushed to help; police and disaster relief forces also reached but an excavator had to be used to pull open the roof

Massive rain in Himachal Pradesh triggered a deadly landslide, burying a bus under huge rocks, leading to deaths of at least 15 people onboard. The toll is feared to rise as over a dozen people were reported injured.

The bus, moving from Marottan to Ghumarwin, was carrying around 30 passengers when boulders hit it, around 6.30 pm. (HT Photo)

• The tragedy occurred in Balughat area of Jhanduta subdivision in Bilaspur district, in the relatively lower hills. The bus, moving from Marottan to Ghumarwin, was carrying around 30 passengers when boulders hit it, around 6.30 pm.
• The bus got stuck under the massive rocks, and locals rushed in to help. Police and disaster relief forces also reached. Eventually an excavator had to be pressed into service to tear open the roof and get people out.

What remained of the bus after the accident and rescue operation. (HT Photo)

• While most of the passengers died, four persons, including two children, were rescued by 9 pm, as per information from officials in state capital Shimla.
• Police said an entire portion of the mountain fell on the bus, which belonged to a private transport operator.

Parts of the bus after it had to be torn open to get people out. (HT Photo)

• Area SDM Arshiya Sharma said the injured were rushed to a hospital in the nearby village of Berthin. "Rescue operations are continuing on a war footing,” she told HT.
• Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep condolences over the tragic accident. PM Narendra Modi also expressed grief and announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased.