Himachal Pradesh: At least 15 people have lost their lives after a massive landslide struck a bus travelling through the hilly Bilaspur district in northern India, local authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred, following days of heavy rainfall. The bus, carrying 20 to 25 passengers, was hit by debris from the landslide. Police reported that nine men, four women, and two children were among the dead. Three injured children were rescued and admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Rescue teams resumed operations to locate other missing passengers, who are feared dead.
Visuals from media showed the bus mangled on a mountain road, with rescuers digging through debris to recover trapped passengers. Television footage also displayed heavy machinery clearing mounds of earth while workers sifted through mud-soaked belongings.
Intermittent rains have pounded the region, destabilising the fragile mountain slopes. Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences following the tragedy.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of extreme rainfall across South Asia this year, affecting India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, and Nepal. In August, flash floods destroyed an entire village in Uttarakhand, while neighbouring Nepal saw at least 44 deaths over the weekend due to mudslides and flooding.
The recent heavy rains marked the end of Nepal’s monsoon season, which typically runs from June to mid-September, and led to flooding in parts of Kathmandu and the cancellation of domestic flights. Experts warn that climate change is intensifying monsoon patterns in the region, causing unpredictable bursts of extreme rainfall followed by dry periods.
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