PM Modi Condoles Himachal Bus Tragedy as Rain Havoc Leaves Trail of Death and Destruction Across the Himalayas
The mountains are beautiful. But in the monsoon, they can become unforgiving.
On Saturday morning, a private bus carrying 18 passengers skidded off a rain-soaked mountain road near Chalunj Mor in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district, plunging into a gorge and killing seven people. Eleven others were injured.
As rescue teams rushed to the scene, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the loss of lives "deeply saddening" and praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. "My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. May those injured recover at the earliest," the Prime Minister's Office posted on X.
The accident occurred around 7.15 am on the Tissa-Bairagarh route, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre. Chamba Assistant Superintendent of Police Dinesh Sharma said seven passengers died at the spot while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals with the help of local residents. Police have launched an investigation into the accident.
The Age of Anger
31 Jul 2026 - Vol 05 | Issue 31
A raging generation makes the government relent. What's next?
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also expressed grief over the tragedy and directed the district administration to ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured.
The deadly crash came as the India Meteorological Department continued to warn of heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh, with authorities cautioning people about slippery roads, reduced visibility, landslides and the risk of structural damage. Residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas.
The same weather system has also battered neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir.
In Udhampur's Ramnagar area, two people were swept away after a sudden surge of water rushed through a ravine. Rescue teams comprising the State Disaster Response Force and local police launched an immediate search operation. Officials later located one body lodged against rocks while efforts continued to trace the second missing person.
The rains have also left behind a quieter tragedy in Rajouri.
Flash floods triggered by repeated spells of heavy rainfall have washed away fertile farmland, paddy fields, maize crops, livestock enclosures and even portions of land beneath homes in villages along the Saaj and Plangher streams. Farmers say the latest floods have compounded the destruction caused by an earlier deluge on July 19.
"We depended on this land for crops, fodder and livestock," one farmer told ANI, saying nearly 30 to 40 families had suffered similar losses after the river changed its course through their fields.
Another resident estimated that around 25 to 30 households had lost agricultural land to the raging waters, leaving families uncertain about their future as damage assessment continues.
The India Meteorological Department has warned that isolated heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms could continue across parts of Jammu and Kashmir, increasing the risk of flash floods, localised flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.
From a bus lying mangled in a Himachal gorge to villages in Rajouri watching rivers swallow fields that sustained generations, Saturday's tragedies carried a common thread.
In the Himalayas, a few hours of relentless rain can redraw roads, rivers and lives. And for many families across the region, this monsoon has become a season they will never forget.
(With inputs from ANI)