44 KILLED AS BUS FALLS INTO TONS RIVER IN HP
SHIMLA/DEHRADUN: Forty-four passengers were killed on Wednesday when a private bus, carrying more than 50 passengers, fell into the Tons river near Chopal, 95 km from Shimla. The bus was on its way from Vikasnagar to Tyuni in Dehradun district. Among the dead 31 are male, 10 women and 3 girls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each of those killed. He also announced Rs 50,000 for each of those seriously injured in the bus accident.
SHIMLA / DEHRADUN: Forty-four passengers were killed on Wednesday when a private bus, carrying more than 50 passengers, fell into the Tons river near Chopal, 95 km from Shimla. The bus was on its way from Vikasnagar to Tyuni in Dehradun district. The route passes through Himachal Pradesh. A medical team and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel were rushed to the spot.
Among the dead 31 are male, 10 women and 3 girls.
Himachal Pradesh police confirmed the toll. The Tons is the largest tributary of the Yamuna and flows through the Garhwal region in Uttarakhand, bordering Himachal Pradesh.
Uttarakhand chief secretary S Ramaswamy directed Amit Negi, secretary (disaster mitigation), to get in constant touch with their Himachal counterparts for more updates. Chief minister TS Rawat has announced R 1 lakh ex gratia for the family members of those killed in the accident. and R 50,000 for the injured.
As per official sources, the conductor of the bus jumped out seconds before the bus plunged into the river. He was arrested later by the Himachal police. The cause of the accident, however, is yet to be ascertained.