7 Killed, 11 Injured In Chamba Bus Accident As Monsoon Disrupts Life Across Himachal; 185 Roads Blocked

Shimla: At least 7 people were killed and 11 others injured after a private bus skidded off the road and met with an accident near Chalunj Mor in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district on Saturday morning, as incessant monsoon rains continued to disrupt road connectivity and essential services across the state.

According to officials of the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), the accident involving a Sharma Bus occurred at around 7:15 am under Patwar Circle Bairagarh. 

All 11 injured passengers were evacuated and shifted to nearby health facilities. Six of the critically injured were subsequently referred to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for specialised treatment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the lives lost in the road accident near Chalunj Mor in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district and prayed for the recovery of the injured.

"The loss of lives due to a mishap in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, is deeply saddening. 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.

A multi-agency search-and-rescue operation has been launched at the accident site, involving personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Police, Home Guards, Fire Services and the Revenue Department. 

accident comes amid widespread disruption caused by heavy monsoon rains and landslides across Himachal Pradesh.

According to the latest SEOC situation report, as of 10 am on Saturday, 185 roads were blocked across the state, up from 162 on the previous evening. 

Mandi remained the worst-affected district with 92 blocked roads, followed by Kullu with 48, Chamba with 14 and Shimla with 14.

Earlier today, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed the district administration to make proper arrangements for the treatment of the injured.

Sukhu posted on X, "The news of the demise of 7 people and injuries to 11 others in the bus accident near Chaluj Morh on the Tisa-Bairagarh route in Chamba district is extremely heartbreaking. I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. May God grant a place at His divine feet to the souls of the departed and bestow strength upon the bereaved families to bear this immense sorrow."

"Instructions have been issued to the district administration to ensure that all the injured are immediately admitted to the nearest hospitals and proper arrangements are made for their treatment. I pray to God for the swift recovery of all the injured," he added.

The adverse weather has also disrupted power and water supply services. As many as 104 distribution transformers were non-functional statewide, including 53 in Kullu, 34 in Mandi, 12 in Kinnaur and four in Shimla. 

Meanwhile, 77 water supply schemes have been affected. Sirmaur reported the highest number of disruptions with 55 schemes, followed by Hamirpur with 9, Bhattiyat in Chamba with 7 and Shimla with 6.

The prolonged spell of monsoon-related disasters has also caused extensive loss of life, property and public infrastructure. 

Official cumulative figures for the period from June 30 to August 7, 2026, show that Himachal Pradesh has recorded 65 disaster-related deaths, with Lahaul and Spiti reporting the highest number at 14, followed by Kangra with 11.

In addition, 78 people have died in separate traffic accidents during the same period. Monsoon-related disasters have left 150 people missing and 226 injured, while 197 livestock animals have also been reported dead. 

Chamba Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Dinesh Sharma, said, "We received information about this accident at 7:15 AM today. A private bus coming from Bairagarh to Chamba met with an accident just after covering 5 kilometres. There were a total of 18 people on board, out of which 7 died on the spot. The other 11 injured individuals were sent for treatment with the help of local people. Postmortem of the deceased is being conducted. Further enquiry is ongoing."

Meanwhile, in the wake of heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, Meteorological Centre Shimla Director Shobhit Katiyar warned the public of slippery roads, reduced visibility and damaged structures as well as agricultural and horticultural crops.

Katiyar advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas. He also urged farmers and horticulturists to take preventive measures to protect their crops.  

The damage to residential and other structures has been substantial, with 572 houses partially damaged and two houses destroyed. In addition, 197 huts, 143 factories/sheds and 41 cow sheds have been damaged.

The cumulative financial loss to public and private infrastructure has reached approximately Rs 83,467.45 lakh, or Rs 834.67 crore, according to official estimates. 

The Public Works Department has suffered the highest infrastructure losses, with damage estimated at more than Rs 61,585 lakh, while the Jal Shakti Vibhag has reported losses exceeding Rs 19,986 lakh.

With heavy rainfall continuing in several parts of the state, authorities have intensified restoration and rescue operations. They are closely monitoring vulnerable areas, particularly those prone to landslides, flash floods and road blockages. (With ANI Inputs)

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