Bilaspur Landslide Rekindles Painful Memories of Koterupi Tragedy
A devastating landslide in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, on Tuesday evening claimed at least 15 lives, with several others reported missing, after a private bus was swept away. The incident has brought back haunting memories of the Koterupi tragedy in 2017, which killed 48 people.
The landslide occurred in the Bhalughāt area, under the Jhandutta assembly constituency. The ill-fated bus, carrying an estimated 30 to 35 passengers, was traveling from Marotan to Ghumarwin when a sudden slope collapse buried the vehicle under tons of debris.
A police officer involved in the ongoing rescue operation said, “The entire mountainside gave way. It was terrifying. The chances of survival for those still trapped are very slim.”
Three people have been rescued alive from the rubble, offering a small ray of hope, while search and rescue teams continue to comb the debris for survivors. The rescue operation, led by district administration, police, and disaster response teams, is challenging due to difficult terrain and unstable weather conditions.
The tragedy has revived memories of the catastrophic Koterupi landslide on August 13, 2017, one of the deadliest natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh’s history. Continuous rains in 2017 caused a massive landslide along the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway (NH-154), washing away a 150-meter stretch of road near Koterupi village in Mandi district.
The landslide buried homes, vehicles, and two Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses, which had briefly stopped at a roadside kiosk for refreshments. A total of 48 lives were lost, and no one survived in the buried buses. Among the HRTC buses, an AC bus (HP-63-5840) traveling from Manali to Katra with 10 passengers on board was swept away near Urla village in the Padhar sub-division, about 35 kilometers from Mandi town. Three passengers died on the spot, while others were hospitalized with injuries.
A second bus (HP-73-4423), traveling from Chamba to Manali, fell approximately 1,000 meters into the valley and was completely buried under the landslide debris. Both the Koterupi and Bilaspur incidents highlight the vulnerability of Himachal Pradesh’s hilly regions during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
Experts have repeatedly warned of the increasing frequency and intensity of such natural disasters, often exacerbated by deforestation, unplanned construction, and climate change. As the search for the missing continues in Bilaspur, questions are once again being raised about preparedness, early warning systems, and the resilience of critical infrastructure in the state.
Authorities have urged locals and travelers to avoid unnecessary movement in landslide-prone areas, particularly during heavy rains. The state government has announced compensation for the families of the deceased and assured all possible assistance to the injured and affected.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
