Tragic Landslide in Himachal Pradesh: 15 Dead, Rescue Operations Ongoing

A devastating landslide struck a private bus in Himachal Pradesh's Balughat area within the Jhandutta assembly segment, Bilaspur, on Tuesday evening, resulting in the tragic death of 15 people. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was alerted to the incident at around 6:50 p.m. and promptly mobilized teams to the site by 8 p.m.

NDRF Assistant Commandant Karam Singh reported that while 15 bodies have been recovered, efforts are ongoing to locate one missing victim. He attributed the landslide to continuous rain in the region. Concurrently, rescue operations strive to retrieve any possible survivors, aided by the local community and authorities.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri confirmed the accident's severity, noting that local residents were instrumental in saving two children. Rescue teams from multiple agencies, along with local volunteers, are engaged in a search for an eight-year-old boy. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu extended his condolences and assured governmental support for affected families.

(With inputs from agencies.)