Himachal Pradesh: At least nine killed, 39 injured as bus plunges into deep gorge in Mandi

At least nine persons were killed on the spot and 39 others injured, when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus plunged into a deep gorge near Jogindernagar in Mandi district late on Saturday night, police said.

The ill-fated bus, carrying over 55 persons was on its way to Rekong Peo, when the mishap took place about 210 km from Shimla. Out of the nine, eight bodies have been retrieved from the wreckage of the bus and more deaths are not ruled out as some of the injured persons were in critical condition, police said, adding 39 people have been injured.

The rescue operations are in progress and injured persons have been rushed to PGI Chandigarh, Government Medical College, Tanda (Kangra) and other hospitals. The deceased victims are yet to identified, they said. The rescue operations are still on and further details are awaited.