7 killed as private bus falls off hilly road in Himachal’s Chamba, 11 injured

A private bus plunged off a steep hillside near Chamba in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of seven passengers and injuries to eleven others, according to the police. The accident occurred around 7:15 am on the Bairagarh-Tissa road, near Chalunj Mor, in a remote area of Chamba district near Sach Pass.

Preliminary investigations indicate the bus had departed from Bairagarh towards Chamba just 15 minutes prior to the accident. The bus was carrying a total of 18 people, including the driver. Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Saklani stated that determining the cause of the accident, which may have been a mechanical fault, is premature at this stage.

The deceased passengers, identified as Jagdev Sharma, Des Raj, Tej Singh, Jagdeyi, Hardei, Neelam, and the driver Roop Singh, hailed from various villages in the region. Among the injured are children Sahil, Sushmita, Priyanka, Harshu, Panno Devi, Kavya, Dhani, Dharma Devi, and Arpit Mangal. They were treated at the government hospital in Tissa before being transferred to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for further care.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu have expressed condolences for the victims, with the chief minister describing the incident as "extremely heartbreaking."