Shimla: Seven passengers were killed and 11 others injured when a private bus overturned and plunged onto a lower road in Chamba district at 7:15 am on Saturday, police said.
The accident occurred when the bus was on its way from Bairagarh to Chamba near Chalunj Mor (curve) on the Bairagarh-Tissa road, a treacherous 27-kilometre mountain route in the remote Churah Valley known for its narrow paths and steep drop-offs. It serves as a key stretch on the way to the high-altitude Sach Pass.
SP Chamba, Vijay Saklani, told PTI that the exact number of people on the bus is not yet known.
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He said upon hearing the passengers' screams, locals rushed to help and informed police.
Rescue operations are underway with a search-and-rescue team comprising personnel from NDRF, Police, Home Guards, Fire Services, and the Revenue Department at the scene, police said.
Of the 11 injured, six with serious injuries have been referred to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital, Chamba. Police said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident.
Local Pradhan Mandhi Rana said rescue operations are underway.
Police said the death toll can rise further as passengers could be buried under the wreckage of the bus.
So far, 78 people have died in road accidents in Himachal Pradesh during the ongoing monsoon season from June 30 till August 7, police said.
