13 dead, 39 injured in bus accident in Kullu

Kullu, Nov 14 (UNI) Thirteen people were killed and 39 injured, five of them seriously, when their bus plunged into a gorge in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh early today, Deputy Commissioner Chamel Singh said.

While seven people were killed on the spot, six others succumbed to their injuries in the Kullu Zonal Hospital where they had been admitted after the accident, which occurred at Talwara, 40 km from here, at about 0800 hrs, he said.

Mr Singh said the bus, carrying 55 to 60 people on board, was going uphill on its way to Nuli from Aut in the district when it fell into the 350-foot deep gorge.

People from the neighbouring villages rushed to the accident site and helped district officials in extricating injured people and bodies from the mangled bus, he said.

He said the condition of five of the injured passengers was serious, adding that four of them had been referred to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) at Shimla, while another had been referred to PGI at Chandigarh.

Several injured passengers were undergoing treatment at Kullu Zonal Hospital here, while a few others with minor injuries were discharged after first aid, he said.

Mr Singh said the district administration has announced an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 each to the next of kin of those killed in the accident and seriously injured.

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the accident, he said.

He said Kullu SP G D Bhargav immediately rushed to the accident site along with medical and rescue teams to supervise the operations.

A woman, identified as Sunita Sood, was among the 13 killed in the accident, he said.

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