Late Tuesday evening, tragedy struck the mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh in northern India when a massive landslide engulfed a passenger bus, leaving at least 15 people dead and several others missing or injured. The incident, which occurred near the Bilaspur district, was attributed to relentless torrential rains that had battered the area for days, destabilizing the already precarious mountain slopes, according to statements from local officials and national news agencies.
The ill-fated bus was carrying between 20 and 25 passengers when it was struck by cascading debris. Among the deceased were nine men, four women, and two children. Three injured children were rescued from the wreckage and transported to a local hospital, as reported by the office of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The search for survivors and missing passengers pressed on through the night and into the following day, with rescue workers—some using heavy machinery, others sifting through mud-soaked belongings—battling treacherous conditions in hopes of finding more survivors.
"In this horrific mishap, 15 people lost their lives, including 9 men, 4 women, and 2 innocent children, while 2 children were injured and the search for one continues," Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), as reported by Reuters. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was quick to arrive at the scene, with Assistant Commandant Karam Singh confirming the ongoing efforts to locate the missing child and any other potential survivors.
Senior police officer Sandeep Dhawal, speaking to ANI news agency, pinpointed the cause of the disaster: "The major cause of this incident is the rain that has been happening for the last two days in the region." The bus itself was found mangled on a mountain road, with visuals broadcast by ANI showing the scale of devastation and the desperate attempts by rescuers to clear the debris.
Himachal Pradesh was not the only region reeling from nature’s fury. Across the border in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, at least 23 people lost their lives to landslides and floods triggered by the same unrelenting rainfall. Five deaths were reported from Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district, and the devastation extended into neighboring Nepal, where at least 50 people died over the weekend due to mudslides and floods, according to Reuters. The impact in Nepal was so severe that the capital, Kathmandu, saw widespread flooding and the cancellation of all domestic flights on October 4, 2025, as monsoon season drew to a dramatic close.
The international toll did not end there. Reports from Siliguri indicated that five bodies of Nepalese nationals, including four women, were found near Manebhanjan, while the body of a Bhutanese national was discovered at Nagrakata, apparently swept downstream by floodwaters. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the diplomatic implications, stating, "The body of a Bhutanese national was found yesterday. The chief secretary will take it up with appropriate authorities." Chief Secretary Manoj Pant was tasked with liaising with the Indian central government and the Nepal and Bhutan embassies to ensure the proper identification and repatriation of foreign victims.
As the region’s governments scrambled to respond, expressions of condolence and pledges of support poured in from India’s highest offices. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both conveyed their sympathies to the families of those lost and committed government resources to relief and recovery operations. The scale of this year’s monsoon devastation has left little doubt about the growing risks facing South Asia. According to the BBC, extreme rainfall events have triggered deadly floods and landslides not only in India and Nepal but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and the Maldives.
West Bengal’s response was swift and highly visible. On October 7, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee traveled to Dudhia, near Siliguri, to personally hand over compensation to the families of 16 victims who died in the Darjeeling Hills landslides. Each bereaved family received a cheque of Rs 5 lakh, while a family that lost three members was granted Rs 15 lakh. During her visit, Banerjee assured the gathered families of full government support, instructing the administration to maintain relief operations and ensure that no family was left unattended. She also directed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief Anit Thapa to stay in constant touch with the affected families.
Banerjee’s visit was not without controversy. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari criticized the chief minister for what he described as "inhuman and insensitive" behavior, alleging that she ignored another local official, MLA Sankar Ghosh, who was hospitalized in the same facility as North Malda MP Khagen Murmu, whom Banerjee did visit. Banerjee, however, dismissed criticism, saying, "Criticism is not a solution right now when people are in deep trouble after such a natural calamity. We must stand by the victims and focus on relief and restoration." She also provided an update on Murmu’s condition, stating, "He is now stable, nothing serious. I have seen the doctor’s report—he is a diabetic and should remain under observation. He sustained injuries near his ear, but he is recovering well. I pray for his good health."
In addition to immediate relief, Banerjee announced that one member from each bereaved family would be appointed as a special home guard within 15 days, regardless of educational qualifications—"Reading and writing ability will be the only qualification required," she said. She also instructed engineers to construct a temporary bridge at Dudhia within 15 days, restoring a critical link between Mirik and Siliguri that had been severed by a major bridge collapse. Restoration work on Rohini Road, a key route connecting Darjeeling with the plains, was also ordered after a 500-metre stretch was washed away.
Community kitchens were set up in affected areas, with Banerjee directing that they continue to operate until normalcy returns. She cautioned residents against building homes on unsafe hilltops, reminding them that the region’s hills are geologically "young" and prone to landslides. Banerjee further raised concerns about large hydroelectric dams in Sikkim and Bhutan, arguing, "These dams pose serious risks for regions like Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar. I do not support constructing dams that obstruct the natural flow of rivers."
The grim events of this week are part of a larger pattern. Experts cited by the BBC have warned that human-driven climate change is making South Asia’s monsoon increasingly unpredictable. Where once the rains followed a relatively stable seasonal pattern, they now come in erratic, extreme bursts—torrential downpours followed by prolonged dry spells. The consequences, as witnessed in Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Nepal, and beyond, are increasingly catastrophic for communities living in the region’s vulnerable hills and valleys.
As rescue teams continue their search for the missing and governments coordinate relief, the scars left by these landslides are a stark reminder of the mounting dangers posed by climate change and unchecked development in fragile landscapes. For the families who lost loved ones and the communities struggling to rebuild, the path to recovery will be long, but the resolve to endure remains as strong as ever.