A devastating landslide struck a passenger bus in Himachal Pradesh in northern India late Tuesday night, leaving at least 15 people dead and prompting urgent search and rescue operations. The bus was navigating a mountain route near Bilaspur district when debris gave way after days of heavy rainfall, unleashing soil, rock, and mud onto the vehicle.
The victims include nine men, four women, and two children, while additional passengers remain missing and feared trapped under the rubble. Three children were rescued with injuries and taken to a nearby hospital. Rescue teams worked through the night and into the following day, using heavy machinery and manpower to clear debris and locate survivors.
Authorities say the region’s terrain had become dangerously unstable after persistent rain, increasing the risk of landslides. In hilly and mountainous states like Himachal Pradesh, such weather patterns often cause soil saturation and slope failures, especially along roads carved into steep hillsides. Local officials, disaster response units, and police coordinated efforts in challenging conditions to reach the crash site and secure the area.
The tragedy has sparked national grief, with political leaders and authorities offering condolences to affected families. With the death toll likely to change as recovery continues, the incident underscores persistent dangers faced by travelers in vulnerable landscapes—particularly during extreme weather events.