NINE KILLED, 25 INJURED IN SHIMLA BUS MISHAP
The HRTC bus carrying 33 passengers was on its way to Tikkar from Shimla when the incident took place
At least nine persons, including two women, were killed and 2 others injured when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus rolled down a gorge near Chhaila in Shimla district on Friday. The mishap occurred near Gajerhi, 42km from Shimla on the TheogHatkoti National Highway when the bus, carrying 33 passengers, was on its way to Tikkar from Shimla, police said.
: At least nine persons, including two women, were killed and 25 others injured when the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus rolled off the road near Chhaila in Shimla district on Friday.
The mishap occurred near Gajerhi, 42 kilometres from here, on the Theog- Hatkoti National Highway when the bus, carrying 33 passengers, was on its way to Tikkar from Shimla, police said.
Eyewitnesses told police that the accident occurred due to a technical snag when the axle of the vehicle broke down as the driver was negotiating a curve.
However, superintendent of police (SP) Omapati Jamwal said, “The exact reason for accidents is not known.”
He added that death toll could rise.The mishap was noticed by a car driver who reported the matter to Theog police station. Police reached the spot and supervised rescue and retrieval operation.
Injured were rushed to civil hospital, Theogh, while those who sustained serious injuries were brought to Indira Gandhi Medical College, Hospital for further treatment among them condition of two of the injured was stated to be critical.
The deceased were identified as Rajeev, driver of the bus, Mahinder Chauhan, Sunil Sharma, Dular Ram, Rohani, Motu, Satya, Sukh Ram and Anil Kumar. Former horticulture minister and Theogh legislature Narender Bragta reached the spot and inspected operations.
Shimla deputy commissioner (DC) Amit Kashyap ordered the district administration to disburse relief to the injured and to kin of deceased.
Governor Acharya Devvrat and chief minister Jai Ram Thakur have expressed shock and grief over the incident.