Hamirpur, August 30
Five passengers were killed and 40 others injured,10 seriously, when the private bus in which they were travelling, plunged into a 40-foot-deep nullah on the Hamirpur-Jahu road, in Bohni area, 6 km from here, around 9.30 a.m. today.
The injured were rushed to the district hospital in Hamirpur and the team of doctors attending on them said three passengers with head injuries had been rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh. Half a dozen others may also be referred to Shimla or Chandigarh.
Mr Daljit Thakur, Superintendent of Police, told The Tribune that the bus (HP-22-6899) belonged to Azad Bus Service and was on its way to Kangra from Sarkaghat when the accident took place.
The driver, Mr Tirlok Singh, apparently failed to negotiate the sharp turn on the narrow road and the bus fell into the nullah. As many as 40 passengers sustained injuries.
The dead include Vikram Jaswal (34), Diwan Chand (45), Bhika (50), Salochna Devi (32) and Rita Devi (35).
The district administration swung into action soon after the incident and rescue teams were sent to the spot to carry the injured to hospital. The Health Department authorities said elaborate arrangements had been made to take care of the injured and the condition of most passengers was now stable.
It was a district road on which the accident took place. Eyewitnesses told the police that the driver was over speeding and he lost control on the bus when vehicles came from the opposite direction and one of the front wheels of the bus skidded from the road.
