Kasauli, March 10
Eleven persons died and 23 were injured when a private bus carrying a marriage party rolled about 100m down a hill near Masoolkhana village, about 6 km from Parwanoo in the wee hours today. While 11 persons, including a child with multiple fractures, have been admitted to the PGI, another 12 are undergoing treatment at the ESI dispensary, Parwanoo.

The dead include driver Gyan Chand and the father and uncle of the bridegroom. The bridegroom has suffered fractures and been admitted to the PGI. The bus which was on its way to Gambher near Subathu reportedly skid on the slushy and narrow kutcha road within minutes of having started the journey from a nearby village.

Officials who rushed to the spot from Parwanoo stated that the bus stumbled on a boulder lying on the road and the driver lost control. The kutcha road was not yet open for plying buses.

Villagers, awakened by the accident around 4.45 in the morning, rushed to rescue the passengers. Vijay who was one of the first to rush to the spot stated that nothing much was visible in the early morning and they heard people wailing and crying for help. The villagers provided water, blankets and quilts to the wounded and immediately informed the police authorities at Parwanoo.

People present on the site stated that the hill from where the bus had rolled down wore a gruesome look, with dead and wounded people lying all over. The remnants of the bus which was severely damaged lay all over the hill. Its roof had fallen apart and people fell out from all directions. The villagers lifted the injured to the road. Some of them died while being lifted to the road.

A number of officials, including Deputy Commissioner K. Sanjay Murthy, SP, S.Z.H. Zaidi, DSP, Lakhanpal, Assistant Commissioner, Sureela Vashishta, Tehsildaar, J.C. Sharma and Naib Tehsildaar Praveen Taak rushed to the spot to assess the situation. An immediate relief of Rs 5,000 to the next of the dead and an equal amount to those referred to the PGI and Rs 500 to the injured has been provided by the district administration.

The dead include Pat Ram, Khem Chand, Maan Chand, Ganga Ram, Gyan Chand, Gurcharan, Vikram, Lekh Ram, Kashi Ram, Ram Lal and Khem Chand, alias Bhola.

Injured persons admitted at the ESI Hospital, Parwanoo, stated that the bus skid on the slushy narrow road. The bodies of the dead were handed over to the relatives after a post-mortem conducted at the ESI Hospital.

The injured alleged that the driver of the ill-fated bus had consumed a heavy dose of liquor the night before and he was hesitant to drive the bus in the morning. But he was persuaded by the people to drive.

The SMO, Dr K. Nath, at the ESI, stated that nine were brought dead and two others succumbed to their injuries soon after.