6 die as bus rolls down gorge in Kullu

Our Correspondent

KULLU, AUGust 16

Six persons, including three women, died and seven were injured when an HRTC bus rolled down a gorge on Aut-Luhri road near Khanag in Anni yesterday.

Anni DSP Baldev Thakur said three persons died on the spot and two others succumbed to their injuries at Banjar hospital. The bus was reportedly stopped at a kiosk for the passengers to have refreshments near Mashnu Nullah. When the driver was out of the bus, somebody meddled with its controls and set the bus moving. The bus was reportedly having 13 persons inside when the incident occurred.

Kullu DC Yunus Khan said the bus was on its way from Kullu to Bagipul. He said the injured were rushed to Anni hospital. Two injured were then shifted to Banjar hospital and four were referred to the IGMC, Shimla. Villagers and schoolchildren of Khanag helped in the rescue operation.

The DC said the deceased were identified as Tek Chand of Karar village, Adarsh from Runa and Manju from Dhambar, all from Anni, and Goyala Devi from Seri village in Banjar and Anita from Mog of Karsog. He said the injured were identified as Chandan, Tenzin, Minakshi, Danny, Ved Prakash, Dimple and Govind.

The DSP said during the preliminary investigation, it was found that Inder Singh had meddled with the controls of the bus. He was admitted to Aut Primary Health Centre. He added that the police had taken custody of the accused but he was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, from Kullu hospital and he succumbed to his injuries.

The DC said interim relief of Rs 20,000 each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 10,000 each to the injured were given and the balance amount of relief.

Kullu CMO Sushil Chander said four ambulances were rushed to the spot for rescue operations and treatment was being provided to the injured free of cost.