At least seven killed, 11 others injured after private bus overturns on mountain route in Himachal

A tragic accident unfolded on Saturday morning in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, as a private bus overturned and plummeted onto a lower road. Police reported that seven passengers lost their lives while eleven others sustained injuries during the incident. The bus was en route from Bairagarh to Chamba near Chalunj Mor on a challenging 27-kilometre mountain route known as the Bairagarh-Tissa road.

This narrow and steep path is notorious for its treacherous curves, making it a vital section of the journey to the high-altitude Sach Pass.

SP Chamba, Vijay Saklani, informed PTI that the actual number of passengers on the bus remains uncertain. Upon hearing the passengers' cries for help, locals quickly sprang into action, alerting the police to the unfolding catastrophe. Rescue efforts are currently underway, with a search-and-rescue team hastily assembled, comprising personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, Home Guards, Fire Services, and the Revenue Department, all working tirelessly at the scene.

Among the 11 injured, six individuals with severe injuries have been swiftly transported to the Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for critical care. The police are actively investigating the cause of the accident, aiming to determine the sequence of events that led to the tragic accident. Local Pradhan Mandhi Rana confirmed that rescue operations are in full swing, and police warned that the death toll could potentially rise further as some passengers may be buried beneath the wreckage of the bus.

To date, the monsoon season, which began on June 30, has claimed the lives of a total of 78 people in road accidents across Himachal Pradesh.