22 killed, 40 injured as bus rolled down in deep gorge in HP

Shimla, July 29 : As many as 22 persons were  reportedly killed and 40 injured in two separate incidents involving Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses in Shimla district on Wednesday.

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An HRTC bus on route to Shimla to Sawerakhad rolled down a 300 feet deep gorge at Kadharghat near Basantpur 60 km from Shimla. Shimla Superintendent of Police DW Negi said 21 dead bodies have been recovered while 5 injured including driver have been referred to the Indira Gandhi medical College and Hospital.

Sub divisional Magistrate Shimla rural GS Negi said the bus skidded down a 300-ft deep gorge. The government has ordered a magisterial probe into the accident. Police sources said that due bad weather and fog, driver could not see he vehicle coming from other side and lost control over the vehicle.

SDM rural Shimla and SP Shimla is heading the rescue operation and crane had been sent to remove the wreckage and recover dead bodies. Officials said some of the bodies are mutilated. An HRTC official said it was a 2011 model bus and completed 3.5 lakh km while the driver has experience of more than 10 years.

In another accident, nearly 55 people injured when a 42 seater HRTC bus met with an accident at Mihana village nearly 55 kilometer from here.

An HRTC bus started from Janahan to Shimla at 8 in the morning. At the time of accident it was overloaded with 70 passengers as passengers from a nother bus entered in it due to technical problem in another HRTC bus.

Local people said that bus skidded but did not go off road. This could have been a big accident if it would have been skidded off road, said a police official. Of total 70, nearly 55 people have received minor injury and being treated at civil hospital Theog.

Transport Minister GS Bali said it was an unfortunate and magisterial probe has been ordered into the accident. He said reason could not be ascertained yet.

“I have ordered an enquiry and tough action would be taken against those found guilty,” said he. He added that bad weather could be a reason of the accident in Basantpur mishap while in another accident overloading is evidently a reason and he would take stern action after the report come.