In a tragic incident on Saturday morning,a private bus overturned in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district,resulting in the deaths of seven passengers and injuries to 11 others . The accident occurred around 7:15 am on the Bairagarh-Tissa road, a perilous 27-kilometre mountain route known for its steep drop-offs and narrow paths.
The bus was traveling from Bairagarh to Chamba when it lost control near Chalunj Mor, a particularly treacherous curve. Local authorities confirmed that the deceased have been identified as Jagdev (50), Desh Raj (35), Jahdehi (24),Hardehi (43), Neelam (34),along with the driver Roop Singh (35) and conductor Tej Singh (39),all residents of the Churah area.
Among the injured are Karan Singh,Sushmita,Pano Devi, Dhani, Dharmo Devi,and Vijay Kumar, as well as five minors: Priyanka,Harsha, Kavya,Aprit,and Neha. Six of the injured, who sustained serious injuries,have been transferred to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for urgent medical care .
Rescue operations commenced swiftly after local residents heard the passengers' screams and rushed to the scene. They alerted the police,who dispatched a search-and-rescue team comprising personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police,Home Guards,Fire Services, and Revenue Department.
As rescue efforts continue, the exact number of passengers on board remains unclear. Chamba's Superintendent of Police,Vijay Saklani, stated that investigations are ongoing to ascertain the cause of the accident. Videos circulating on social media depict the bus overturned in the middle of the road,with bystanders attempting to assist.
This incident adds to a grim tally of road accidents in Himachal Pradesh, where 78 fatalities have been reported during the ongoing monsoon season from June 30 to August 7. region has recently faced heavy rains,leading to the blockage of 179 roads, prompting India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert.
In another recent tragedy in Chamba,five members of a family lost their lives when their vehicle plunged into a gorge. Additionally,a separate incident resulted in one death and four injuries when boulders fell onto a bus . The increasing number of accidents has raised concerns about road safety in the region,particularly during the monsoon season.
