Bilaspur: A massive landslide occurred in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening, killing at least 18 people and injuring many others, officials said.
The bus, carrying 30 to 35 passengers, was going from Marotan to Ghumarwin when the mountain collapsed on the bus in the Bhalughat area of Zhandutta assembly segment.
So far, 18 bodies have been pulled out of the debris. Three have been rescued and shifted to a hospital, officials said. Police and district administration officials are at the scene and rescue operations are in full swing, officials said.
"The chances of the passengers surviving are slim as the entire mountain has fallen on the bus," said a police officer involved in the rescue operation.
The area has been receiving continuous rain since Monday.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri expressed deep grief over the accident. "I am deeply shocked to hear the news of the massive landslide near Balughat (Bhalla Bridge) in Jhanduta assembly constituency of Bilaspur district," the CM posted on X.
"Officers have been instructed to deploy full machinery. I am in constant touch with the local administration and am getting updates on the entire rescue operation," he said.