Five dead, 10 injured in HP

Shimla, Apr 30 (UNI) At least five people were killed and 10 injured, one of them seriously, in various incidents in Himachal Pradash during the last 24 hrs, police sources today said.

Two people were killed and an equal number of people injured after their bus fell into a gorge at Karelnu Nullah, about eight km from Dalhousie, in Chamba district yesterday.

The sources said the people were returning from a religious function when the accident occurred, killing two people, identified as Sadhu Ram, 50, and Om Prakash, 40, on the spot.

The seriously injured have been identified as Satish Kumar, 35, and Sadhu Ram's wife Laxmi Devi, 35, the sources said.

The sources said Satish has been referred to a government hospital at Pathankot, while Laxmi Devi, who had suffered minor injuries was discharged after first aid.

The sources said two youths committed suicide in Kangra and Shimla districts of the state yesterday.

While, 24-year old Suresh Kumar committed suicide by consuming poison in his native village of Kandwardi in Kangra district, another 20-year youth, who was yet to be identified, committed suicide by jumping into Sutlej River from a bridge in Rampur area of Shimla district, the sources said.

The reason for their suicides was not immediately known, the sources said, adding that a case has been registered and investigations were on.

In another incident, a Nepali labourer, identified as Sonum Lama, was killed on the spot in Luni area of Kangra district after inhaling huge quantity of air.

The incident occurred when the labourer was clearing wet soil on his clothes using a compressor and he inadvertently inhaled huge quantity of air, swelling his body into a huge mass.

The sources said Sonum's body was handed over to his relatives after post-mortem examination.

In yet another accident in the state during the last 24 hrs, three members of a family were among eight injured in a road accident at Neen, about 27 kms from here, after their Qualis fell into a gorge last evening, the sources said.

The vehicle was on its way to Shoghi from Basantpur in the district when the accident occurred, the sources said and added that three injured have been referred to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) here.

The sources said the cause of the accident was, however, not immediately known, adding that a case has been registered and investigations are on.

UNI