Bilaspur, October 8: Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri visited Bhallu village under Jhandutta Tehsil late Monday night to review the rescue and relief operations following the tragic landslide that buried a private bus, killing 16 people.
Agnihotri reached the site around 1 am, where he interacted with administrative officials, police, and members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) overseeing the rescue operations. He also met the affected families to offer condolences and assure government assistance.
“The government stands firmly with the victims’ families in this moment of grief,” he said, directing the district administration to expedite relief operations and extend all possible help to those affected.
The Deputy CM later visited Berthin Hospital, where he met the bereaved families and those injured in the incident. Officials said the landslide struck the bus, which was operating on the Marotan–Ghumarwin route, near Bhallu village on Monday evening.
Fifteen bodies were recovered overnight by NDRF teams working through the night, while the body of a child was retrieved on Tuesday morning. Two children were rescued safely.
Agnihotri, who was attending the closing ceremony of the Kullu Dussehra Festival when he received news of the tragedy, left the event midway and rushed to Bilaspur to personally monitor the situation.
After reviewing the rescue operations and ensuring coordination among agencies, he later departed for Kullu to attend the official closing ceremony of the International Kullu Dussehra Festival.
