8 killed, 21 injured as HRTC bus falls 100 feet off road in Himachal's Mandi

An HRTC bus veered off the road and plunged nearly 100 feet near Tarangla, close to Maseran in Mandi district’s Sarkaghat subdivision, killing eight people — including four women — and injuring several others on Thursday.

The bus, carrying 29 people including the driver and the conductor, was en route from Sarkaghat to Durgapur when the mishap occurred.

Five people were declared dead at the Civil Hospital Sarkaghat, two at the Government Medical College Nerchowk and one in AIIMS Bilaspur, police said.

As many as 17 injured people are under treatment at the Government Medical College Nerchowk, AIIMS Bilaspur and RKGMC Hamirpur while four are taking treatment in the Civil Hospital Sarkaghat, they added.

Mandi SP Sakshi Verma said local police and ambulance teams promptly reached the site and carried out a rescue operation, navigating the steep terrain to evacuate victims. The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, Verma, who was at the spot, said.

"Necessary legal action is being taken, and figures are being confirmed," the SP added.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri who also holds the portfolio of transport department met the injured in AIIMS Bilapsur.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed grief over the incident and directed the Mandi district administration to provide ex-gratia grant to the next of kin of the deceased and best of treatment to the injured.

Meanwhile, BJP MP from Mandi Kangana Ranaut also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident. In a post on social media, she prayed to the almighty to give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families. — with PTI