M A I N   N E W S

20 die as bus falls into gorge
Tribune News Service and agencies

SHIMLA, April 26 — At least 20 persons were killed and 15 injured when a bus No (HP-33-5417) of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation met with an accident near Neugal Seri in Kinnaur district, this afternoon.

The ill-fated bus was on its way from Sangla to Sarkaghat in Mandi district.

According to reports reaching here the bus fell into a gorge after a tree, uprooted by strong winds fell on it.

Fifteen persons, including the driver, Pratap Singh and conductor Tilak Raj, died on the spot while five others succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital. A doctor of Animal Husbandry Department was also among those killed.

Of the 22 injured persons, nine were admitted to the hospital at Bhabhanagar while others were admitted at Nichar.

However, the unofficial sources put the death toll at 25 but the HRTC and police sources were categorical that the number of casualties was around 20.

According to latest reports at least 11 bodies have been identified. Those killed were mostly from the nearby Chaura and other villages. Besides Pratap Singh (driver) and Tilak Raj (conductor), other victims were identified as: Badrua Subhash, Chet Ram, Shakuntla, Sunil Lama, all from Chaura village; Arun Sen, a veterinary doctor posted at Neugal Seri; Kripa Ram, a resident of Rupi village; Kuldeep, an employee of Nathpa Jhakri joint venture company; and Vidya Sagar of Continental Foundation joint venture company.