Daijiworld Media Network - Paonta Sahib

Paonta Sahib, Feb 3: At least three people were killed and around three dozen others injured after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus plunged into a nearly 100-foot-deep gorge near Kwanu on the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand border on Tuesday.

According to police, the bus from the HRTC Nerwa depot was on its way from Nerwa in Shimla district to Paonta Sahib in Sirmour district when the accident occurred around 9.30 am. The vehicle reportedly fell into the gorge in an area falling under neighbouring Uttarakhand.

Sirmour Superintendent of Police Nishchint Negi said that three passengers lost their lives in the mishap and most of the injured were residents of Himachal Pradesh. “Almost 37 passengers were travelling in the bus at the time of the accident. We are coordinating with the Uttarakhand Police. The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals in both Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh,” he said.

A massive rescue operation was launched involving teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Himachal Pradesh Police and Uttarakhand Police to evacuate the injured and recover the bus.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed officials to provide all possible assistance to the victims. He also ordered that critically injured passengers be airlifted by helicopter to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla for advanced treatment.

The chief minister expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for peace to the departed souls, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.