Himachal: 21 killed, 5 injured as bus falls in gorge near Shimla

Shimla: Twenty one people were killed and five injured when a bus plunged into a 400-mt deep gorge at Katarghat on Basantpur-Kingal highway, 65 km from here, this afternoon.

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus, carrying over 30 persons, was on its way from Shimla to Sawerakhud when the accident took place, a senior police official said.

Nineteen passengers were killed on the spot while two succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital, he said.The five injured were admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) hospital here, the SP, who visited the scene, said.

All the bodies had been recovered from wreckage of the bus, he said adding some were mutilated beyond recognition. The driver of the bus jumped out of the vehicle and was reported safe, Negi said.

The bodies of the victims, who are yet to be identified, have been sent for postmortem.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh asked the Shimla district administration to conduct the relief and rescue operations on a war footing.

PTI