GUWAHATI: At least seven people were killed and 11 others injured after a private bus overturned and plunged onto a lower road in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district on Saturday morning, August 8. The accident took place around 7:15 AM near Chalunj Mor on the Bairagarh–Tissa road in the remote Churah Valley, police said.
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The bus was travelling from Bairagarh to Chamba when it lost control on the 27-km mountainous stretch and overturned before plunging onto a lower road. The route is known for its narrow roads, sharp bends and steep drop-offs and also serves as a key approach to the high-altitude Sach Pass.
Reports said six of the 11 injured passengers sustained serious injuries and were referred to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for advanced treatment.
A multi-agency rescue operation is underway at the accident site, involving personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Himachal Pradesh Police, Home Guards, Fire Services and the Revenue Department.
Police said the death toll could increase as rescue personnel continue operations and some passengers are feared to be trapped beneath the wreckage.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident and establish the circumstances that led to the bus losing control.
According to media reports, road accidents during the ongoing monsoon season have claimed 78 lives in Himachal Pradesh between June 30 and August 7.