2 schoolgirls, driver killed in Shimla bus mishap

Tribune News Service

Shimla, july 1

An HRTC bus (HP 63 3203) carrying students of Convent of Jesus and Mary School plunged into a gorge at Jhanjheri, 5 km from here, this morning, killing schoolgirls Manya and Mehal, both aged 13, and driver Naresh Kumar. 

Sunidhi Thakur (15), Anushi Sharma (13), Umang Chandel (14), Sarin Thakur (13), Ritika Sharma (13) and bus conductor Suresh were injured. The accident took place when the bus veered off the road as the driver tried to avoid parked vehicles.

An irate mob thrashed a man sitting in one of the parked vehicles after an ambulance and vehicles carrying rescue teams faced obstruction in reaching the injured. The crowd smashed windscreens of over 60 vehicles. The police arrested two persons for the violence. Led by relatives of victims, residents blocked the Khalini-Jhanjheri road for  three hours and demanded that the road be declared a ‘no-parking’zone. Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, who reached the site, had to face their wrath.

“A case under Sections 279 and 337 has been filed and investigations are on,” said ASP Praveer Thakur. 

Mob goes on rampage

• Furious residents block road for 3 hrs, blame authorities
• Windowscreens of parked vehicles smashed; police arrest 2 persons for violence
• CM visits injured in hospital, says probe will be held and steps taken accordingly
• Private schools in Shimla affiliated with CBSE to remain closed on Tuesday