One killed, 24 injured as bus falls into gorge in Sundernagar

Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, June 24

One person was killed and 24 others were injured when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus fell into a gorge at Rohanda on the Sundernagar-Karsog road late last night.

The bus was on its way to Reckong Peo from Dharamsala. Passengers said the driver failed to negotiate a curve as it was being driven at high speed.

The deceased has been identified as Gava Sherpa, a resident of Bir in Baijnath of Kangra district. He was crushed under the bus.

The injured included Amit Kumar from Banuri, Palampur, Haria Ram (Urla, Mandi), Suresh Kumar (conductor) from Ludar Mahadev, Hamirpur, Sarvan Singh (driver) from Ghuggar, Palampur, Kangra, Vijay Kumar (Kotmorsh, Mandi), Chatter Singh (Jia, Palampur, Kangra), Ajay Kumar (Palampur), Pushpendr Singh (Nithar, Kullu), Raj Kumar (Padhar, Mandi), Sanjeev Kumar (Suka bagh, Jogindernagar, Mandi), Onkar Chand (Palampur, Kangra), Tilak Raj (Kelodhar, Karsog, Mandi), Jai Ram (Baijnath, Kangra), Arvind Negi (Sangla, Kinnaur), Sanjeev Kumar (Baijnath, Kangra), Virender Kumar (Baina, Mandi), Rachna Devi (Nurpur, Kangra), Lekh Raj (Kotmorsh, Mandi), David Kumar (Mahog, Karsog, Mandi), Rohit Kumar (Aani, Kullu), Rohit (Bhamla, Sarkaghat, Mandi), Norab Sherpa (Beer, Baijnath, Mandi), Yashpal (Aani, Kullu) and Bupesh (Rampur, Shimla).

Rajeev Kumar, SDM, Sundernagar, said ambulances from various stations were pressed into service and after first-aid, the injured were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Sundernagar.

“Relief has also been given to the victims,” he said.

Mandi SP Prem Kumar said a case under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 304-A had been registered against the driver. Last month, an HRTC bus had met with an accident near Jogindernagar, in which 12 persons were killed in the accident.