12 dead, several injured after bus falls into gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district

At least 12 persons were killed and several others injured after a private bus on Pathankot-Dalhousie route fell into a 200-feet-deep gorge near the Panchpula bridge in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district on Saturday.

Soon after the incident, a rescue team led by Dalhousie Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) arrived at the spot, which is near Banikhet in Dalhousie sub-division, said Chamba Superintendent of Police (SP) Monica Bhutunguru. The rescue operation is currently underway, Bhutunguru said, adding that the death toll may rise further.

#UPDATE SP Chamba, Dr Monika: Death toll rises to 12. #HimachalPradesh https://t.co/lMesU4BXHM

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2019

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has directed the Chamba district administration to ensure immediate relief operations and provide all possible help to the victims of the accident. The administration has been also asked to provide immediate medical treatment to the injured.