3 dead, 29 injured in bus accident in HP

Shimla, Jun 9 (UNI) At least three people died and 29 were injured, two of them seriously when their bus veered off the road and fell into a gorge in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, police sources today said.

The accident occurred at Dari, near Balichowki and about 42 km from Kullu town at about 0830 hrs, while the private bus was on its way to Kullu from Banjar, the sources told UNI here.

While two persons, identified as Om Dutt and Vir Singh died on the spot, another, identified as Vikas, died on way to hospital.

The sources said all injured have been admitted to district hospital at Kullu where condition of two people was critical.

Senior officials, along with a medical team, visited the accident site to supervise relief and rescue operations.

The Mandi district administration has announced an immediate cash relief of Rs 10,000 each to the next of kin of the deceased.

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

State Governor V S Kokje and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal have expressed grief over the accident and directed the district administration to provide all possible assistance to the affected families.

PWD Minister Gulab Singh, HP Assembly Deputy Speaker Khimi Ram and state BJP president and MLA Jai Ram Thakur have also expressed sorrow over the accident.

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