Bus accident in HP kills 20, injures 24

Shimla, May 2 (UNI) In one of the worst bus accidents in Himachal Pradesh, 20 people were killed and 24 injured after a private bus fell into a gorge in Shimla district of the state early today, Shimla SP A P Singh today said.

The accident occurred at Kupri Nullah, about 60 km from here, at 0730 hrs when the bus was on its way to Shimla from Kiari in the district, he told UNI here.

Mr Singh said 17 people were killed on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries in the Indira Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) here where they were referred to after the accident.

The cause of the accident was, however, not immediately known, he said, adding that the dead and the injured were being identified.

State Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh visited IGMC and expressed grief and sorrow over the accident. He also inquired about the condition of the injured who were undergoing treatment there.

UNI