On the evening of October 7, 2025, a routine bus journey through the hilly terrain of Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district took a tragic turn that has since gripped the region in shock and mourning. A devastating landslide struck a private passenger bus in the Bhalughat area near Berthin, in Jhandutta tehsil, leaving 16 people dead and two children as the sole survivors. The incident has not only prompted a wave of grief among families and local residents but has also spurred a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to this calamity.
The bus, traveling the Marotan-Ghumarwin route, was carrying 18 passengers as it wound its way through the scenic yet perilous hills. According to The Tribune, the catastrophe unfolded when an 80-meter stretch of vertical land mass—loosened, perhaps, by the relentless monsoon rains—collapsed onto the front portion of the moving bus. The force was so immense that it hurled debris through the vehicle, instantly claiming the lives of most on board, including nine men, four women, and three children. Among the deceased was eight-year-old Rahul from Barsar, Hamirpur, whose story echoed the heartbreak felt across the region.
Yet, in the midst of this devastation, a glimmer of hope emerged. Two siblings, Aarushi, aged 10, and Shaurya, aged 8, survived against all odds. Moments before the landslide, the children had moved to the rear of the half-empty bus to play, a decision that would ultimately save their lives. The impact of the landslide hurled them under the seats at the back, shielding them from the deadly debris that engulfed the rest of the bus. "The kids were found under two different seats. It's nothing short of a miracle," Hans Raj, a resident of Fagog village and ward member of Baloh panchayat, told local reporters, as cited by The Tribune.
The siblings, however, were not unscathed by the tragedy. They lost their mother, aunt, and cousins in the incident—a heavy burden for two young children to bear. Their miraculous rescue, facilitated by the quick actions of locals and the arrival of a JCB machine, was met with cheers from the crowd that had gathered at the scene. As noted by the Hindustan Times, the children are now recovering, but the emotional scars of their ordeal will linger long after their physical wounds have healed.
In the wake of the disaster, the district administration moved swiftly to provide relief and initiate a thorough investigation. Bilaspur’s Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Kumar, announced immediate assistance of Rs 25,000 to each affected family. He assured the public that the cases for ex gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh per victim were being processed and would be released to the kin of the deceased within a week. "The relevant officials have been instructed to submit the cases and release the relief amount of ₹4 lakh rupees to the kin of the deceased within a week," Kumar stated, according to ANI reports.
Beyond the immediate response, local authorities recognized the urgent need to understand the factors that contributed to the tragedy. On October 9, 2025, a magisterial committee was formed to investigate the incident, as confirmed by both The Tribune and Hindustan Times. Headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Om Kant Thakur, the committee includes the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Regional Transport Officer (RTO). Their mandate: to submit a detailed report within 10 days, scrutinizing every aspect of the accident.
The investigation, as outlined by ADC Thakur, will leave no stone unturned. "The investigation will include all relevant information related to the bus accident, such as the number of passengers on board, the bus’s insurance, and other necessary documents," Thakur explained to the media. A key focus will be on so-called "black spots"—dangerous stretches of road identified by the PWD as being particularly vulnerable during the monsoon season. The committee is tasked with reviewing how many of these black spots have been improved, which still require attention, and whether the accident site itself was previously flagged as hazardous.
Such scrutiny is not without precedent. Himachal Pradesh, with its steep slopes and unpredictable weather, has long wrestled with the risks posed by landslides, especially during the monsoon months. According to The Tribune, the committee will examine all prior information available with the concerned departments about the accident site and incorporate it into the final report. This comprehensive approach aims to prevent future tragedies by identifying systemic failures or lapses in safety protocols.
The aftermath of the landslide has left a deep mark on the local community. In Barthin Bazaar, business activity came to a standstill on October 8, as residents mourned the loss of friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Many families lost more than one member, compounding the grief and shock that have swept through the region. As the only two survivors, Aarushi and Shaurya’s recovery is being closely followed, with many drawing solace from their resilience even as the broader community grapples with its collective loss.
Meanwhile, the search and rescue operations, which began within minutes of the accident, concluded on the afternoon of October 8. Authorities made repeated appeals through media, social media, and video messages to identify any potentially missing persons. Ultimately, no additional missing persons were reported, allowing officials to formally end the search.
For now, the focus remains on uncovering the precise causes of the landslide and determining whether more could have been done to safeguard passengers. The committee’s findings, expected within days, will likely shape future policy and infrastructure improvements throughout the region. As the investigation proceeds, the people of Bilaspur and beyond are left to reflect on the fragility of life in the mountains—and the extraordinary fortitude of two children who, by sheer luck and a twist of fate, survived when so many did not.
While the scars of October 7 will not soon fade, the hope is that the lessons learned from this tragedy will lead to safer journeys for all who travel Himachal Pradesh’s beautiful but treacherous roads.