A bus navigating a mountainous route in Himachal Pradesh was struck by a landslide after continuous heavy rainfall over several days.
Published On 8 Oct 2025
Tragedy struck in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district when a landslide triggered by relentless heavy rains engulfed a bus traveling through the region’s steep terrain, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 individuals, according to local officials.
The vehicle was carrying between 20 and 25 passengers when the disaster occurred late Thursday. Authorities confirmed that among the deceased were nine men, four women, and two children.
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Three children who sustained injuries were promptly rescued and transported to a nearby hospital for medical care, as reported by the office of Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the state’s chief minister. Search and rescue teams continued their efforts into Wednesday, hoping to locate any remaining passengers, though officials fear there are no survivors.
Footage from ANI revealed the bus crushed under layers of earth on a narrow mountain road, with rescue personnel painstakingly excavating the site to reach those trapped beneath the debris. Additional video coverage showed workers operating heavy equipment to remove large amounts of soil, while others carefully sorted through waterlogged personal items.
The region has been subjected to sporadic rainfall since the start of the week, destabilizing the already vulnerable slopes and increasing the risk of such calamities.
Expressions of sympathy poured in from the highest levels of government, with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extending their condolences to the victims’ families.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of severe weather events affecting South Asia this year, where intense monsoon rains have led to widespread flooding and landslides across countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, and Nepal.
In August, flash floods devastated an entire village in Uttarakhand, northern India, while recent mudslides and floods in Nepal claimed at least 44 lives over the past weekend.
The heavy downpours coincided with the conclusion of Nepal’s monsoon season, which typically spans from June through mid-September. The flooding also inundated parts of Kathmandu and forced the cancellation of all domestic flights on Saturday.
Climate scientists warn that anthropogenic climate change is exacerbating the intensity and unpredictability of South Asia’s monsoon cycles. Traditionally steady rains are now arriving in sudden, extreme bursts followed by prolonged dry intervals, complicating disaster preparedness and response.
