19 dead, 15 injured as bus rolls into gorge in Shimla

Shimla, Jun 30 (UNI) Nineteen people were killed and 15 injured, two of them seriously, after a private bus plunged into a gorge at Chaily in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh early today.

Shimla ASP DW Negi said the accident occurred at Chaily at about 0855 hrs when the bus was on its way to Shimla from Piplidhar, killing nine people on the spot, while six others succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital.

Mr Negi said four more people died at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) here, where they had been brought after the accident.

The 15 injured have been admitted to the IGMC and the condition of two of them was stated to be serious, he said.

The ASP said the roof of the over-crowded bus was torn apart after it rolled down the slopes and many passengers were thrown out of the bus. The bodies of many of the passengers were scattered on the hillside, while some were trapped under the bus, he added.

The bus driver and conductor were also injured in the accident, he said, adding that speeding and overcrowding might be the cause of the accident.

The bodies of the passengers had been handed over to their relatives after post mortem examination and official sources said majority of the people killed were government employees, who were daily commuters.

MORE UNI AS HS MSJ ND1928