12 kids among 31 hurt as bus falls into gorge in Bilaspur

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 13

As many as 31 persons, including 12 children and eight women, received injuries when a bus rolled down a gorge near Jhandutta in Bilaspur district around 8:30 am today.

The private bus with 31 passengers on board, including school and college students, was on its way from Marotan to Bhaged when the tragedy struck. The accident reportedly occurred as a front wheel of the bus came off and the uncontrolled bus fell into a gorge.

The injured had been rushed to hospital in Jhandutta while five seriously injured, Ratti Ram (68), Raj Rani (52), Sahil (14), Surender (48) and Manoj Kumar (28), were referred to the district hospital, Bilaspur.

The injured undergoing treatment in Jhandutta were Pankaj (15), Abhishek (15), Subham (13), Abhilasha Kumari (14), Anita (20), Anjana (20), Raman Kumar (19), Ramesh Kumar (57), Subham Sharma (18), Kapil Rana (20), Suresh Chand (40), Vivek (17), Shivani (18), Neha (18), Abhishek (15), Neha (18), Abhishek (14), Ramesh Kumar (35), Subham (13), Neha (15), Divyansh (1), Pratishtha (8), Shivali (20), Dimple (27), Manohar (38) and Madan (45).

Sources said of the 31 passengers, 13 were relieved after giving first aid. A case had been registered and investigations were underway, the police said.

To ensure the safety of schoolchildren travelling in different categories of vehicles, the State Transport Department had notified the Himachal Pradesh Motor Vehicles (First Amendment) Rules 2018.

As per new rules, vehicles providing transportation facilities to schoolchildren will not be more than 15-year-old, the age of driver should not exceed 60 years, physical fitness certificate and driving licence is mandatory. The driver of the school bus should have a minimum five years of experience and children below five years will not be allowed to sit in the front seat.

As many as 795 persons lost their lives while 3,555 sustained injuries in 2,044 accidents in eight months till August 31 this year.

There are about 90 black spots, including 18 on roads under the National Highways Authority of India, three on roads under the BRO and 13 on PWD roads.