At least eight individuals lost their lives, and numerous others sustained injuries after a private bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district. The tragic incident occurred near Haripurdhar while the bus, carrying over 50 passengers, was en route from Shimla to Kupvi via Rajgarh. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, with reports suggesting that the driver may have lost control while navigating a steep slope.
Local witnesses recounted that the bus driver appeared to struggle with the vehicle’s descent on the challenging terrain. The rescue operation faced challenges due to the severe damage to the bus, prompting local residents to initiate efforts even before official assistance arrived. The majority of the injured, predominantly locals, were promptly transported to the nearby government hospital in Haripurdhar for medical attention.
Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu mourned the loss of lives and instructed district officials to extend full support to the families of the deceased. He emphasized the importance of providing top-notch medical care to the injured individuals for their swift recovery. Former Union minister Anurag Thakur also shared his sympathies, terming the incident as distressing and offering prayers for the victims and their families.
