New Delhi:
In yet another dreadful incident, at least 10 people were killed and twenty-one others injured after a bus travelling from Shimla to Tikkar in Himachal Pradesh on Friday fell into a 500-ft gorge. The incident took place after the driver lost control while negotiating a steep turn, according to police.
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus was carrying 30 passengers when the bus fell into the gorge at Chhaila, 45 km from Shimla.
While five people died on the spot, three were declared dead at nearby Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC). The driver of the bus also lost his life in the accident as well.
The other passengers, who were injured were rushed to a hospital in Theog, about 30 km from the accident spot.
The local administration extricated the bodies of the victims from the wreckage of the bus with the help of locals.
The death toll could rise further as the condition of three of the injured is serious, an official said.
Stressing that the exact cause of the accident was not known yet, the authorities hinted that the driver, while negotiating a curve lost control of the vehicle. A case has been registered by the police.
The deceased were identified as Rajeev, driver of the bus, Mahinder Chauhan, Sunil Sharma, Tula Ram, Rohini, Motu, Satya and Sukh Ram.
Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Transport minister Gobind Singh Thakur, Education minister Suresh Bharadwaj and former minister and local MLA from Jubbal-Kotkhai Narinder Bragata expressed shock and grief over the accident and sent their condolences to the bereaved families.
(With inputs from PTI)
