Himachal Shocker: Death toll shoots to 8 in Mandi bus accident; Click for more

The bus was going to Durgapur in Sarkaghat with about 30 people, including driver and conducter, on board.

Shimla: The death toll in the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus accident in Mandi on Thursday has rising to eight while the number of injured is over 20, reports Dynamite News correspondent.

Bus In A Deep Gorge

The bus plunged into a deep gorge of more than 100 feet in Mandi district. The bus was going to Durgapur in Sarkaghat with about 30 people, including driver and conducter, on board.

As soon as the nearby residents saw the accident they immediately informed the police. The police reached the spot and began rescue operation.

SP Mandi

Sakshi Verma, SP Mandi said that police and medical teams reached the accident site promptly for rescue operation.

Deputy CM Meets Injured

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri went to the AIIMS Bilaspur to meet the injured. Agnihotri also hold the portfolio of transport deparment.

Deceased Identified

On the other hand the truck driver has been charged with dangerous and negligent driving. Prakash from Batoh, Balveer from Pati Bhalayara, Antariksh from Dopi hamlet, Geeta Devi and Doma Devi from Rasehar village, Suman Kumar from Maseran, Barfi Devi from Bhaliana village, and Kalsi Devi from Tarangla are all recognized. To look at the incident, a probe group has been established.

Professionals also came by the site of the incident. When the accident took place, the route was short. According to the preliminary investigation, a car collided with a truck caused the accident. Seven persons have perished thus far as a result of the HRTC bus falling into a gorge, which has brought grief to Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Uttam Singh, the Divisional Manager of HRTC Mandi. He said the district authorities have been told to give the injured immediate medical care. He requested prayers for the souls of the departed and conveyed his sympathies to the families who had lost loved ones.

The Prime Minister's Office has declared a Rs ex gratia payment. From the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, families of those who died in the bus accident in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, were given 2–2 lakh each. Rs. 50,000 will be given to the wounded. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also spoke with the families of the dead and met with the bus crash victims at AIIMS Bilaspur Thursday afternoon.