Late Tuesday, a tragic landslide in northern India resulted in the death of at least 15 individuals, according to local officials.
The bus was navigating the hilly vicinity of the Vilaspur district when the landslide occurred, following a period of heavy rainfall. At the time, there were approximately 20 to 25 passengers on board. Among those who lost their lives were nine men, four women, and two children, as reported by the police.
In the aftermath, three injured children were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for care, as noted by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the state’s chief civil servant. Rescue operations are still underway, with teams working to locate other passengers who are feared to be trapped or deceased.
The region has been experiencing intermittent rain since Monday, which has contributed to the instability of the mountain slopes. This kind of weather can be dangerous—something we often don’t think about until it’s too late.
Both President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed their condolences following this catastrophic event.
This year’s extreme rainfall has led to significant flooding and landslides across South Asia. Countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and others have been struggling with severe weather impacts. In August, for example, northern India’s Uttarakhand was hit hard, causing entire villages to be wiped out, while neighboring Nepal reported at least 44 fatalities linked to landslides and flooding.
Heavy rains this past weekend marked the end of Nepal’s monsoon season, which typically spans from June to mid-September.
Weather disruptions became considerable in areas like Kathmandu, where all domestic flights were canceled on Saturday due to adverse conditions.
Experts suggest that climate change, driven by human activities, has amplified the monsoon’s intensity in this region, leading to unpredictable and violent bursts of rainfall. It’s a cycle that can feel so relentless sometimes, making one ponder how we adapt to such extremes.
