At least 18 passengers were killed as a private bus they were travelling in was struck by a massive landslide in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening, officials told news agency PTI.
The bus was carrying around 30-35 passengers and was on its way from Marotan to Ghumarwin. The accident took place in Bhalughat area in Jhandutta assembly segment, PTI reported.
Rescue teams are on the spot and operations are underway.
So far 15 bodies have been recovered from the debris, officials said.
Whole mountain came crashing down on the bus and chances of survival of passengers are bleak, said a policeman engaged in rescue operations, PTI reported.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed grief over the accident and directed the officials to expedite the rescue operations, an official statement said.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) posted on X, "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. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."
The landslide took place amid intermittent rainfall in the region since Monday.
(With inputs from PTI)
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