Negligence Disguised as Brake Failure: HRTC Bus Crashes into Hillside, Department Launches Probe

Mandi, August 7:
In the Mandap area of Dharampur subdivision, Mandi district, a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus met with an accident after the driver claimed its brakes had failed. In an attempt to prevent a major mishap, the driver steered the vehicle into a hillside. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported, and all 20 passengers on board escaped unharmed. However, a subsequent departmental inquiry has revealed findings pointing toward driver negligence.

The Incident
According to reports, the bus, driven by Hemraj with conductor Nathu Ram on duty, was en route from Mandap to Sarkaghat when its air brakes allegedly failed. Assessing the situation as critical, the driver intentionally rammed the bus into a hillside to bring it to a stop. He immediately informed the Regional Manager (RM) of the HRTC Sarkaghat Depot, Mehr Chand, about the accident.

In a press statement following the incident, the RM clarified that the mishap was not purely due to a technical fault but also involved negligence on the driver’s part. The investigation revealed that only one of the bus’s brakes was faulty, while the remaining three were fully functional, meaning the vehicle could have been brought under control.

Adding to concerns, the driver later drove the same faulty bus back to Sarkaghat via a steep downhill route — a decision that has drawn further criticism. The RM also disclosed that just a day earlier, the same driver had run another bus into a roadside drain near Morla, requiring a crane for recovery. That incident is also under investigation.

Given the seriousness of both cases, the department has ordered a detailed probe. If negligence is proven, strict disciplinary action will be taken against the HRTC driver.