S Gopal Puri
Bilaspur: A tragic incident struck today in the Jhandutta subdivision of Bilaspur district when a private bus was buried under debris after a sudden landslide. Rescue operations are underway and at least 15 d*eaths have been confirmed, while 4 have been taken out alive and several others remain trapped under the rubble.
The accident occurred near the Ballu Bridge, a location prone to rockfalls and debris slides, especially during heavy rainfall periods.
The bus, reportedly on the Marotan–Kalaul route, was traversing the narrow hilly stretch when a massive slab of earth, mud, and rocks detached from the hillside and crashed onto the vehicle.
Eyewitness videos show rescue workers scrambling with JCBs and manual tools to pull the bus from under the debris, while cries for help echoed from trapped passengers.
District authorities confirmed that search-and-rescue teams from the state disaster management force, local police, and fire services have reached the site.
Thermal drones and sniffer dogs are reportedly being deployed to locate survivors. Injured victims are being rushed to nearby district hospitals, while some critically wounded may be transferred to larger medical centers.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed deep grief over the catastrophe and ordered that the maximum possible medical and logistic support be provided to the affected families.
He has directed relief teams to expedite clearing operations and guarantee prompt relief assistance for survivors.
Local officials have also sounded an alarm over the condition of hillside roads in Bilaspur, many of which remain weak and vulnerable during heavy monsoon rainfall.
Concerns are rising about whether sufficient preventive measures and slope stabilisation works had been conducted.
This tragic event once again underscores the fragility of transportation infrastructure in mountainous regions and the constant threat posed by landslides. As rescue operations continue through the night, hopes remain for more survivors, even as the district mourns the loss of human lives.
