SHIMLA, Sept 27: Twenty one persons, including three women, were killed this morning when a private mini-bus rolled 600 feet down into a gorge near Ransua-Jabrog village in Sirmaur district.
The ill-fated bus was on its way from Uchha Takkar to Renuka when the tragedy occurred on Sangrah-Haripurdhar road, 75 km from district headquarter Nahan, killing all 21 occupants, including driver and conductor, of the bus.
The bus broke into pieces and some of the bodies recovered from the wreckage of the bus were mutilated beyond recognition.
19 persons died on-the-spot while one injured person succumbed in Dadhau hospital and a 15-year-old boy Sanjay, who was referred to PGI, Chandigarh, succumbed to injuries on way to Chandigarh, Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner, Vikas Labroo told PTI from the spot.
Bodies of 19 persons have been recovered from deep gorge and handed over to the relatives after postmortem.
Eleven out of 21 deceased hailed from Jagrob village, while the remaining ten were from Uchha Takkar, SDM, Sangrah, Harbans Negi said.
Kin of each victim has been given immediate ex-gratia relief of Rs 20,000, Negi said.
The search operations were hampered as some of the bodies were covered under thick grass and the slopes had become slippery due to rains.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmilla Singh, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Transport minister G S Bali and former Speaker Ganguram Musafir have expressed deep shock and grief over tragedy and conveyed their condolences to bereaved families. (PTI)
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