Search operations are underway for an eight-year-old boy who has been missing after a massive landslide hit a private bus in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday.
Fifteen people have been killed in the mishap.
"Fifteen people have been killed. Two children are safe. The search is ongoing for one more child. The incident occurred due to a landslide, and its timing was such that debris landed on the bus, crushing it," Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said.
#WATCH | Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh | In the Balurghat area of the Jhanduta sub-division of Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh, 15 people were killed when a private bus was caught in a landslide. Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri visited the incident site… pic.twitter.com/yHwRnuJZ58
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2025
The bus carrying about 25-30 passengers was on its way to Ghumarwin from Marotan when the tragedy occurred at 6.40 pm. According to reports, a huge portion of a mountain gave way and fell on the bus.
Fifteen bodies have been recovered so far and the rescue operations are going on to trace the missing child.
Those rescued included two children—Arushi and Shaurya—who are undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bilaspur.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh | Two young survivors of the Bilaspur private bus accident brought to AIIMS Bilaspur. Their father, Rajjkumar, informed that along with his two children, four other members of his family were in the bus, who are currently critical and undergoing… https://t.co/WBgZ8npw1P pic.twitter.com/lvmh1HmJ5T
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2025
Those who lost their lives included nine men, four women and two children. The deceased have been identified as Naksh, Aarav, Sanjeev, Vimla, Kamlesh, Kanta Devi, Anjana, Bakshi Ram, Narender Sharma, Krishan Lal, Chuni Lal, Rajnish, Sonu, Sharif Khan and Praveen Kumar.
"Postmortem would be conducted here in Berthin hospital, and official police work would also be completed here so that the bodies could be handed over to the family members of the deceased in the morning by 10:30 to 11:00 am," Agnihotri said.
The rescue operations are being conducted by the local administration, police, and the state and national disaster response forces.
The deputy chief minister said that although it is evident that the accident took place due to the sliding of the mountain following rains, a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.
The region has been lashed by intermittent rain since Monday, making the fragile mountain slopes unstable. |
