19 people killed in bus accident in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, July 2 (UNI) As many as 19 people were killed and 25 others injured when a private bus carrying them rolled down into a deep gorge near Ghanduri in Sirmour district today.

While 18 people died on the spot, one succumbed to injuries on way to hospital, Additional District Magistrate Rakhil Kahlon told UNI.

The injured, some of them seriously, were admitted to the District hospital at Nahan and the civil hospital at Rajgarh. The seriously injured persons were referred to the Zonal hospital at Solan.

Police said the bus was going from Gathadhar to Solan, and the accident occurred when the driver lost control over the bus.

The administration has announced interim relief of Rs 5,000 to the kin of the deceased, Rs 5OOO to those seriously injured and Rs 2500 to those with minor injuries.

Governor V S Kokje and Chief Minister Virbhadra Virbhadra Singh expressed grief over the accident and conveyed their condolences to bereaved families.

UNI