'Several trapped': 18 killed as landslide hits bus in Himachal; PM Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh

NEW DELHI: 18 people were killed on Tuesday after a massive landslide struck a private bus near Balughat (Bhallu Bridge) in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, officials told news agency PTI.

The bus, carrying 30-35 passengers was travelling from Marotan to Ghumarwin in Punjab when the incident occurred along the Pathankot–Mandi national highway near the CSIR campus in Palampur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

"Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," PM Modi said.

Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 7, 2025

Union home minister Amit Shah also reacted to the incident, stating, “I am deeply saddened by the bus accident caused by a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. NDRF teams have reached the incident site and are engaged in rescue operations . I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. At the same time, I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

President Droupadi Murmu described the incident as “extremely tragic” and extended her sympathies to the victims' families. “The news of the deaths of several people in a bus accident caused by a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, is extremely tragic. I express my condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and pray for the speedy recovery of those who have been injured,” she said.

बिलासपुर, हिमाचल प्रदेश में भूस्खलन के कारण हुई बस दुर्घटना में कई लोगों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है। अपने प्रियजनों को खोने वाले परिवारों के प्रति मैं संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूँ और घायल हुए लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करती हूँ।

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 7, 2025

BJP president JP Nadda also expressed his condolences. "The news of several people being killed or injured due to a bus being caught in a massive landslide in the Jhandutta area of Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, is deeply distressing," he said in a post on X.

हिमाचल प्रदेश के बिलासपुर जिले के झंडूता क्षेत्र में हुए भीषण भूस्खलन में एक बस के चपेट में आने से कई लोगों के हताहत होने का समाचार अत्यंत दु:खद है।

हिमाचल प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री श्री @SukhuSukhvinder से दुर्घटना स्थल पर चल रहे राहत एवं बचाव कार्य की जानकारी ली।

नेता प्रतिपक्ष…

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) October 7, 2025

Earlier, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the tragedy had “deeply shaken” him, adding, “the news of a massive landslide near Balughat (Bhallu Bridge) in the Jhanduta Assembly constituency of Bilaspur district has deeply shaken me.”

बिलासपुर ज़िला के झंडूता विधानसभा क्षेत्र के बालूघाट (भल्लू पुल) के पास हुए भीषण भूस्खलन की ख़बर ने मन को भीतर तक झकझोर दिया है।
इस भारी भूस्खलन में एक प्राइवेट बस के चपेट में आने से 10 लोगों के निधन का दु:खद समाचार मिला है और कई अन्य के मलबे में दबे होने की आशंका है। रेस्क्यू… pic.twitter.com/GBZslb36CP

— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) October 7, 2025

He said rescue operations were underway “at a war footing”, and that he was in “constant contact with the local administration” receiving minute-by-minute updates.

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"Instructions have been given to officials to deploy all available resources. I am in constant contact with the local administration and am receiving minute-by-minute updates on the rescue operation," he wrote.

Police said a case has been registered and the exact cause will be determined after investigation.