Himachal Pradesh News : 3 killed, 29 injured as HRTC bus falls into gorge near Uttarakhand border

At least three people were killed and 29 others injured after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus plunged into a deep gorge at Kwanu in Uttarakhand on Tuesday morning.

The bus was travelling from Chopal in Shimla district to Paonta Sahib and met with the accident around 9.30 am, after having started its journey at around 6.30 pm on Monday. Nearly 35 passengers were on board at the time of the mishap.

According to officials, the bus veered off the road and rolled into the gorge, triggering a major rescue operation by local authorities and emergency services.

“The injured passengers have been admitted to hospitals in Vikasnagar and Dehradun. Two critically injured passengers suffering from spinal injuries have been referred to PGI-Chandigarh for advanced treatment,” said Hem Chand Verma, SDM Chopal.

He said immediate financial assistance had been provided to the victims’ families.
“An ex-gratia amount of ₹25,000 each has been given to the next of kin of the deceased. Those with minor injuries have been given ₹5,000, while passengers with serious injuries have received ₹10,000,” he added.

As per HRTC officials, the probable cause of the accident appears to be the sinking of a retaining wall on the road, which may have led to the vehicle losing balance.

CM Sukhu, Transport Minister express grief

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep sorrow over the tragic accident and directed the Deputy Commissioner to ensure all possible assistance to the families of the deceased and best medical care for the injured.

Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also expressed condolences and instructed the local administration to extend full support to the affected families and ensure prompt treatment for the injured passengers.

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