Himachal Pradesh’s dangerous mountainous terrain witnessed yet another devastating road accident on Saturday as a private bus overturned, plunging onto a lower road in the Chamba district, resulting in the death of eight people and rendering 10 other passengers injured, police said. 

According to officials, the incident transpired near Chalung Mor in the Devikothi area along the Bairagarh-Tissa Road, when the bus operated by Sharma Bus Service was heading to Chamba from Bairagarh. 

Bus meets ill-fate just 3 kilometres after starting journey

Officials in the know of the tragic incident said the bus departed from Bairagarh at around 6:30 am and met with the accident after travelling just 3 kilometres. They added that 18 people were on board when the bus met the ill-fate. 

The vehicle reportedly overturned and then fell onto a road below, trapping several passengers beneath the mangled wreckage. When they cried out for help, the bystanders and passers-by were alerted, who rushed to the scene and informed the police. 

Subsequently, a multi-agency rescue operation was brought into force to evacuate the ones trapped inside and beneath the damaged vehicle. The rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, Home Guards, Fire Services and the Revenue Department worked in consonance to execute the operation. 

Six grievously injured

Officials said that of the 10 people injured in the crash, six sustained grievous injuries and have been referred to the Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for treatment. 

The Chamba District Disaster Management Authority confirmed the death tally (8), adding that 10 others were injured. The identities of the ones who died have not been disclosed officially. 

The rescue operation, according to sources, was executed amid difficult terrain, and the locals too assisted the emergency personnel in reaching the victims, as well as transporting the injured to medical establishments. 

Probe underway

In the aftermath of the incident, authorities have mounted a probe to determine what caused the bus to turn turtle and plunge onto the road below. Further details are yet to emerge as officials examine the circumstances leading to the wreckage. 

Notably, the crash has once again brought the challenges of road travel through the mountainous terrain of Himachal Pradesh into focus, where difficult road conditions and steep gradients can make rescue operations particularly challenging.