New Delhi, Oct. 7 -- In a tragic incident, at least 18 passengers were killed in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday evening after a private bus they were travelling in was struck by a massive landslide in Bilaspur district, officials have confirmed.

The incident took place in the Bhalughat area of the Jhandutta assembly segment.

The bus, which was carrying an estimated 30 to 35 passengers, was en route from Rohtak in Haryana to Ghumarwin.

A policeman involved in the rescue operation stated that an "entire mountain came crashing down on the bus," suggesting the chances of passenger survival are bleak.

So far 18 bodies have been recovered from the debris and three people rescued and sent to hospital, BJP MLA from Jhandutta JR Katwal, who was o...