Daijiworld Media Network - Shimla
Shimla, Jul 24: A devastating accident in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district claimed the lives of at least five people on Thursday morning, after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Tarangala in the Sarkaghat subdivision.
The ill-fated bus was carrying 30 passengers when it lost control and rolled down the hillside. Four people — two men and two women — died on the spot, while another succumbed to injuries later, police confirmed.
Emergency response teams from the Sarkaghat police station and the Deputy Superintendent’s office rushed to the site within minutes. However, local villagers were the first to respond, initiating rescue operations before authorities arrived.
Several passengers were rescued and rushed to the Civil Hospital in Sarkaghat, with three critically injured victims referred to AIIMS Bilaspur for advanced treatment.
Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma said that the cause of the accident is still under investigation. “Efforts are on to determine what led to the bus losing control. Rescue and relief operations have been completed,” she said.
Condolences Pour In
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I have directed the district administration to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical care,” he posted on X.
Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur also expressed grief, calling the accident “deeply saddening” and urged the administration to ensure proper treatment for the injured.
Locals Left Reeling
Most of the victims were residents of nearby villages, and the community remains in shock. Eyewitnesses said the bus veered off the road without warning, and its fall into the gorge made rescue efforts extremely challenging.
The district administration faced significant hurdles in retrieving the victims from the wreckage due to the terrain.
This tragic accident adds to a growing list of road mishaps in Himachal’s hilly regions, raising fresh concerns over road safety and transport oversight in the state.