Five killed, 65 injured in road accident in HP

Kullu, May 21 (UNI) Five people, including three women, were killed and 65 injured after the private bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh today, district Deputy Commissioner Chamel Singh said.

The accident took place at Karta, about 65 km from here, at around 0940 hrs when the overloaded bus was on its way to Aut from Neuli in the district, he told UNI.

Mr Singh said while four people were killed on the spot after the bus fell into the 60 feet deep gorge, another succumbed to his injuries on way to the Kullu District Hospital and 65 others injured.

Twenty one people with minor injuries were discharged after first aid, while the others were undergoing treatment at the Kullu Hospital where the doctors described the condition of 11 as serious, he said.

The cause of the accident was, however, not immediately known, he said and added that investigations were on to ascertain the cause.

The Kullu DC said the locals helped the police personnel in pulling out the bodies from the mangled bus.

Senior police and district officials along with a medical team had rushed to the accident site to supervise in rescue and relief operations, he said.

He said the district administration has announced an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 each to the next of the kin of the dead, Rs 1,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 500 to the others injured in the accident.

Unofficial sources identified the dead as Radhu Ram, 55, Guddi and Chuda Devi, both 35, Hira Lal, 35, and Mohan Lal.

UNI