Death toll rises to 16 in Bilaspur village landslide bus tragedy

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, October 8

With the recovery of one more body, the death toll in yesterday’s bus accident in Balughat in Jhandutta subdivision of Bilaspur district has risen to 16. One body was recovered from the debris today morning. The deceased was identified as Rahul, an eight-year-old boy. He was returning to his home with his mother and grandmother when he died in the landslide.

As many as 15 bodies were recovered from the debris of the ill-fated bus that was buried under a huge landslide yesterday. Two children —a boy and a girl — are the only survivors of the accident.

Rajesh Dharmani, Technical Education Minister, while talking to media, said a judicial inquiry has been ordered into the mishap. It is learnt that people of the area had reported about the accident spot’s vulnerability to PWD officials. Dharmani said although the landslide was a natural calamity, government would look into every aspect of the incident that had claimed 16 precious lives.

Meanwhile, the relief and rescue operations following the tragic bus accident in Bhallu village was suspended today afternoon.

Rahul Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Bilaspur, said that around 6:40 pm a private bus, bearing registration No HP69-5761 commuting on the Marotan–Ghumarwin route, was hit by a massive landslide near Balughat village close to Barthin town, claiming 16 lives. He added that deceased comprised nine men, four women and three children while two children, Shaurya and Arushi survived. They sustained minor injuries and were discharged from AIIMS, Bilaspur, this morning after providing treatment.

The DC said that bodies of all deceased were handed over to their families after post-mortem at Community Health Centre at Barthin. The district administration has provided an immediate relief of Rs 25,000 to each bereaved family. A financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh would be provided to these families under relief guidelines. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed sorrow over the tragic incident and conveyed his condolences to the affected families.

Sandeep Dhawal, Superintendent of Police, who monitored the rescue operation, said that apart from Police and Home Guard personnel, NDRF team was also deployed to evacuate bodies. He appreciated the efforts of the locals, who acted immediately and rescued two children Shaurya and Arushi.

Jai Ram Thakur, Leader of Opposition, was at Barthin health centre and offered his condolences. He said that Himachal had suffered a lot due to natural disasters and this incident was very unfortunate. He said that government should look into such incidents seriously so that they do not occur due to human negligence. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced Rs 2 lakh each for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.