New Delhi: A private bus overturned and plunged onto a lower road in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district on Saturday, killing eight people, including the driver and conductor, and injuring 11 others. The accident took place near Chalunj Mor on the Bairagarh-Tissa road in the remote Churah Valley.
The bus, operated by Sharma Bus Service, was travelling from Bairagarh to Chamba. According to officials, it had left Bairagarh at about 6.30am and met with the accident after covering about three kilometres.
The vehicle was carrying 18 people when it overturned and plunged onto the road below. Several passengers were trapped inside or underneath the damaged bus following the crash.
Local residents who saw the accident alerted the authorities. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force, police, Home Guards, Fire Services and the revenue department were sent to the area to assist with the rescue operation.
Of the 11 injured passengers, six were severely injured and were referred to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for further treatment. The identities of those killed have not yet been officially released.
The accident occurred on the 27-kilometre Bairagarh-Tissa road, a mountain route through the Churah Valley. The road has narrow, winding stretches with steep slopes and serves as an important route for travellers heading towards the high-altitude Sach Pass.
Police have begun an investigation to determine what caused the bus to overturn. Officials have not yet established whether the accident was linked to road conditions, the vehicle or another factor.
The crash comes as Himachal Pradesh deals with heavy monsoon disruption. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, 185 roads were closed across the state as of Saturday, while 77 water supply schemes and 104 transformers were also affected.
Mandi was the worst affected, with 92 roads closed, followed by Kullu with 48. Chamba and Shimla reported 14 closures each.
The state has also recorded 65 deaths in rain-related incidents since the monsoon began on June 30, according to officials. The incidents include deaths linked to landslides and flash floods, while the estimated economic loss has reached about ₹834 crore.
The weather department has forecast rain across Himachal Pradesh until August 14. An orange alert has also been issued for heavy to very heavy rain in isolated areas on Monday and Tuesday.
The chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, expressed condolences over the deaths and directed the district administration to ensure proper treatment for those injured in the accident.