M A I N   N E W S

Thirteen Sikh pilgrims die in mishap

Dehradun, June 30
Thirteen Sikh pilgrims, including six women, were killed and 28 injured when their bus, returning from Hemkunt Sahib, fell into a ditch in Peny village of Chamoli district today, a senior police official said here.

The accident occurred when the bus lost control on a bumpy road and fell into the ditch, Mr Ashok Kumar Tamta, SP, Chamoli, said.

The bus was carrying 41 Sikh pilgrims hailing from the Batala area of Gurdaspur district of Punjab, Mr Tamta said.

While nine died on the spot, four succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital, he said adding that the injured had been admitted to various hospitals in the area, where condition of eight was critical.

The driver, Jagdish Singh, belonging to R.S. Pura (Jammu), was among the deceased. Other victims include Avnish Kaur (40), Paramjeet Kaur (50), Manpreet Kaur (23), Anuvir Kaur (12), Sarveet Singh (19), Harpal Singh (60) and Harjeet Singh (35). Two bodies have not been identified so far, the police said. PTI