29 hurt as Volvo bus overturns on Kiratpur-Manali highway

In a major road accident early Sunday morning, a Volvo bus overturned near Shilakippar on the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway in Mandi, leaving at least 29 passengers injured. The bus, which was en route to Kullu from Mandi, lost control and turned turtle under still undetermined circumstances.

According to Mandi Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sagar Chander, the mishap occurred in the early hours when most of the passengers were asleep. The sudden overturning of the vehicle caused panic inside the bus, with passengers sustaining injuries ranging from minor to critical.

The ASP said the bus was carrying around 40 passengers at the time of the incident. Of these, 29 were injured —six of them critically. Two critically injured passengers were referred to PGIMER Chandigarh from Nerchowk Medical College for advanced treatment, while the remaining 23 sustained minor injuries.

“Local authorities responded swiftly, and ambulance services were deployed to transport the injured to the Zonal Hospital in Mandi, where they are currently being treated,” Chander said.

Hospital sources confirmed that most injuries were non-life-threatening, though a few passengers remain under observation as a precaution.

The Mandi police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. Preliminary findings suggest overspeeding or a possible technical fault, but officials say nothing has been confirmed so far.

The injured passengers were tourists from Delhi, Haryana and Maharashtra, who were headed to Kullu to enjoy a holiday in the hills.