Nine killed in accident in HP

Nahan, May 3 (UNI) In second major accident in Himachal Pradesh in as many days, nine people were killed on the spot after their jeep plunged into a gorge in Sirmaur district of the state early today.

Shillai tehsildar J K Hans told UNI here, that the accident occurred 200 metres from Milla Bakras, about 55 metres from here, from which the vehilce had started for Timbi in the district at about 0930 hrs.

Mr Hans said he and Shillai SHO rushed to the accident site immediately after the accident to supervise relief and rescue operations.

The cause of the accident was, however, not immediately known, he said, and added that a case has been registered and investigations were on.

He said the district administration has announced an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 each to the next of the kin of the dead in the accident.

The dead have been identified as driver Kalyan Singh, 37, Surender Singh, 24, Inder Singh, 45, Jagdish, 32, Diyuri Devi, 30, Raghubir Singh, 30, Atma Ram, 16, Kamaldev, 13, and Ran Singh, 55, Mr Hans said.

He said the dead bodies were handed over to the their relatives after post mortem examination.

District ADM Rakhil Kahlon said an ex-gratia of Rs 70,000 each would be paid to the families soon.

He said a case has been registered nad investigations were on.

Yesterday, 22 people were killed and 24 injured after the bus, they were traveling in, fell into a gorge at Kupri Nullah, about 60 kms from Shimla, following a mechancial failure.

UNI