Landslide Buries Bus in Himachal
At least 18 people, including the bus driver and conductor, died after a private bus was buried by a massive landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 6.30pm in Bhalughat area, Jhandutta segment, while the bus was en route from Marotan to Ghumarwin carrying 25–30 passengers. Intermittent rains since Monday triggered the landslide. Rescue operations are ongoing, with three survivors pulled from the debris and hospitalized. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the deceased's families and Rs 50,000 for the injured. The district administration and police are continuing search efforts amid challenging conditions.
Indian Captured in Ukraine
India’s Ministry of External Affairs is investigating reports that an Indian national, Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein from Gujarat, has been captured by Ukrainian forces while allegedly fighting for Russia. The claim was made by Ukraine’s 63rd Mechanised Brigade, which released a video interview where Hussein says he went to Russia for education but was jailed, then coerced into joining Russia’s military in exchange for freedom and money. The Indian Embassy in Kyiv is working to verify the report and establish formal communication with Ukrainian authorities. If confirmed, the case may carry serious diplomatic and legal implications, as Indian law prohibits citizens from participating in foreign armed conflicts. The government has reiterated that such individuals will face legal scrutiny upon return. The MEA is expected to issue a statement once facts are verified.
Encounter in J&K’s Rajouri
An encounter broke out between terrorists and a police party in a remote area of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Tuesday evening, a senior police officer said. Inspector General of Police, Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, said a joint search operation is underway following the encounter in the Beeranthub area of Kandi. "Exchange of fire took place between terrorists and the SOG (Special Operations Group) team in Beeranthub area, Police Station Kandi, Rajouri. Joint parties of the Police, Army and CRPF have rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area," the IGP said. Officials said there was no report of any casualty in the brief firing between the terrorists and the police party in Dheri Khatuni forest around 7.20 pm. The whole area has been put under a strict cordon.