Himachal Pradesh: Bus falls into gorge; eight killed, 20 injured

At least eight persons, including five women, were killed and 20 others injured when a private bus rolled 150 feet deep into a gorge near Darlaghat in Solan district, 50 kms from here, police said.

The mishap took place on Saturday in which five persons died on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries on way to IGMC hospital, Shimla, said Darlaghat DSP Narvir Rathore.

Four out of the eight persons killed in the accident have been identified as Vikas (30) hailing from Bilaspur, Tripta (21), a resident of Mandi, Banarasi Mehto (40) from Jharkhand and Chauhan Singh (35) from Kullu district, while the remaining are yet to be identified, the DSP said.

The ill-fated bus carrying over 40 persons was on its way from Chirgaon in Rohroo area of Shimla district to Mandi when the tragedy struck. The condition of five injured persons admitted to IGMC was state to be serious. The cause of the accident could not be ascertained but eye witnesses said it occurred as the driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Transport Minister GS Bali have expressed deep shock and grief over the mishap and extended sympathies with bereaved families.