The private bus fell onto another road near Chalunj Mor as rescue teams rushed to the crash site
At least seven people were killed and 11 others injured after a private passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged around 100 feet onto another road in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district on Saturday morning.
The accident took place around 7:15 am near Chalunj Mor in the Bairagarh area of Bharmour subdivision, along the Tissa-Bairagarh main road. The bus was travelling from Bairagarh towards Chamba when it veered off the road.
The deceased include the driver and conductor of the bus. Authorities said the vehicle was carrying around 18 passengers at the time of the accident.
11 injured, six in critical condition
Eleven passengers sustained injuries in the crash and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Six seriously injured passengers were subsequently referred to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for specialised medical care.
The identities of those killed and injured had not immediately been released by authorities.
Rescue operation launched
Following the accident, a joint search-and-rescue operation was launched at the site.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, police, Home Guards, Fire Department and Revenue Department were deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations. Teams were also working to ensure that all passengers had been accounted for.
The difficult terrain and the bus’s fall onto the road below posed additional challenges for the rescue teams.
Cause of crash under investigation
The exact cause of the accident has not yet been established.
Officials are examining the circumstances that led the bus to leave the road and plunge down the steep stretch. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
The accident once again puts the spotlight on road safety in Himachal Pradesh, where winding mountain roads and steep terrain can make passenger travel particularly hazardous.
Authorities are expected to share further details about the crash and the condition of the injured as the rescue and investigation operations continue.
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