Himachal: 7 dead, 10 injured as vehicle falls into gorge in Kullu

The injured were first rushed to Banjar Hospital from where they were referred to the Kullu hospital after initial treatment.

Shimla: In a shocking incident seven tourist including three students from Varanasi died and 10 others were injured when a bus carrying passengers in fell into a gorge in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday night. The injured were primarily rushed to Banjar hospital and then they were shifted to Kullu hospital.

According to available information the accident took place at 8:30 pm near Ghiyaghi in Banjar subdivision when a bus carrying 17 passengers lost control, skidded and fell into a gorge. Five tourists died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

"Six of the deceased have been identified as Saurabh, Priyanka Gupta, Kiran, a resident of Delhi, Rishab Raj, and Anshika Jain and Aditya from Uttar Pradesh," said Kullu superintendent of police Gurdev Sharma.

"The injured included Rahul Goswami, Kshitija Agarwal, Priyapal, Ishan Gupta from Haryana, driver Ajay Chauhan, Abhinav Singh, Nishtha Badoni from Uttar Pradesh, Rushav from New Delhi, Lakshaya from Rajasthan and Jai Aggarwal from Madhya Pradesh," police said.

A late-night search and rescue operation was carried out by the officials of the district administration and local residents. According to the police the rescue operation was delayed because of darkness. BJP MLA from Banjar Surender Shourie who was responsible for bringing the accident to the notice of the district administration, thanked the locals and administration for the prompt response.

The horrifying accident came to the fore when Shourie informed the locals about the accident through streaming a video on Facebook Live via his social media account on Monday at around 12.45 am. It was only through him the local people came to know that the accident that occurred near Ghiyaghi in the Banjar subdivision.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said she was deeply saddened by the death of people in a road accident in Himachal Pradesh and wished speedy recovery to the injured.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of many people including students in a road accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery," the president tweeted in Hindi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the kin of the deceased. "The incident of a tourist vehicle falling into a ditch in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh is very sad. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. Along with this, all possible help is being provided to the injured. I wish him a speedy recovery," tweeted PMO.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Union minister Anurag Thakur, who hails from the state, expressed grief over the incident. "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of seven people in a road accident in Kullu. May God give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured," the chief minister said in a tweet in Hindi.

"The accident near Ghiyagi in Kullu is very sad. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. May God gives place to the departed souls," Anurag Thakur, the Union minister and Member of Parliament from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh tweeted in Hindi.

In the last week, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed incessant rain leading to several weather-related incidents such as landslides and flash floods which have led to accidents as well.