Two more mishaps: 24 die in Shimla, Kinnaur

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 21

Twentyfour persons have been killed while 26 injured in two separate accidents in Kinnaur and Shimla districts.

Thirteen persons were killed and one sustained injuries when the Bolero they were travelling in fell into a 300-foot gorge near Chota Kamba, opposite Taranda Dhang on the right bank of the Satluj on the Chaura-Bada Kamba link road in Nichar tehsil of Kinnaur district late last night.

Twelve persons died on the spot while one succumbed to his injuries on way to Rampur hospital. The lone survivor jumped out of the falling vehicle, police sources said. The ill-fated overcrowded vehicle (HP 26 A 1197) carrying 14 persons was on its way to Bada Kamba from Bai village in Bhawanagar after attending a marriage ceremony. The driver of the vehicle lost control near Chota Kamba, sources said, adding that the brother of the newly wedded bride and the driver were among the deceased.

As the news spread, the police and ITBP jawans from Jeory rushed to the spot and started rescue operations. The deceased were identified as Shravan Kumar, Ravinder Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Pawan Kumar, Deepak, Shravan, Yogesh Kumar, Durga Singh, Rajinder Kumar, driver Mukesh Kumar, Arvind Kumar, Abhishek and Hari Krishan while the lone survivor was Uday Singh.

All bodies have been recovered and sent for post-mortem. An immediate relief of Rs 25,000 has been given to family members of the deceased, said Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, N K Lath. A case under Sections 304 and 279 A has been registered and the police is investigating the cause of the accident.

In another accident, 11 persons, including the driver and the conductor of the bus, were killed while 25 injured when the HRTC bus (HP 42-0958) they were travelling in rolled into a gorge near Bajroli Bridge, four kilometres beyond Sainj on Theog-Chopal Road in Shimla district this morning.

The bus was on its way from Shimla to Tharoch when the tragedy struck. Sources said the driver was talking on the mobile phone when he lost control of the bus. Four persons, including the driver Parvinder, died on the spot while five others succumbed to injuries on their way to Theog hospital, one was declared brought dead by the doctors in the IGMC, Shimla, and another one died after reaching the hospital, said Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, Rohan Thakur.

The other 10 deceased were Reena Devi, Shanti Devi, Birender Kumar, Mansa Ram, Sukhdev, Promila, Rena, Vrinda Guleria, Naitik and Akhtar. Injured included Kiran Kumari, Uttam Devi, Varsha Devi, Shanti Devi, Kewal Ram, Nirmala Devi, Sunil Kumar, Deep Kumar, Sanjeev, Randhir, Sandeep Kumar, Gaurav, Ghansham, Sanju, Dasiyaram Sunil, Thapa, Vikram, Pradeep, Ram Murti Prasad, Samita, Sonu Chunchun, Roshan Lal, Vicky and Mausadik.

The district administration was prompt to start the rescue operation. The injured, admitted to hospital in Theog, have been referred to the IGMC, Shimla. The district administration has given an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 to family members of the deceased.

Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal has expressed grief over the death of 24 passengers. Issuing advisory, especially to the young, the Chief Minister, who visited the IGMC to enquire about the well-being of the injured, said the drivers should be cautious.

He said as per the initial reports and statements of eyewitnesses, it was negligence on part of the drivers, which led to the mishap. He directed law and order agencies to take action against those violating traffic norms. A case under Sections 279, 337 and 304 A of IPC has been registered .