As many as 18 people were killed and 15 injured when an ill-fated private bus skidded into Satluj River near Nathpa in Kinnaur district.
The ill-fated Bus HP63 -2051 was on its way from Reckong Peo to Rampur. The mishap occurred at 4 pm. The driver of the bus reportedly lost control over the vehicle while overtaking another private bus.
Injured have been rushed to nearby Bhawanagar hospital, and seriously injured were shifted to Khaneri hospital Rampur.
Naresh Kumar Lath, deputy commissioner, Kinnaur, said help is being sought from the Army and the disaster management team. The police and home-guards teams have rushed to the spot to carry relief and rescue operations.
Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh have expressed grief over bus accident.
The Chief Minister has ordered magisterial inquiry into the mishap which would be conducted by SDM Bhabanagar, Neelam Dulta. He directed the district administration to provide immediate relief as per the relief manual to the next of the kin of the deceased.
Himachal Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker Jagat Singh Negi reached the accident spot and monitored the relief and rescue operations.
The government has announced Rs 25, 000 to the family members of those died in the mishap and Rs 15,000 to the injured as an immediate relief.
