Shimla: A private bus fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district on Monday thereby leaving 13 people dead and two injured. Local people reached the spot as soon as they received information about the accident. Around 20 people were on board the bus that was travelling from Shenshar to Sainj.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg said that the bus fell into the gorge near Jangla village at around 8.30 am. Rescue operations are ongoing and the injured have been hospitalised. Kullu SP Gurdev Sharma said that the incident has been reported and a police team has been sent to the spot. The deceased are yet to be identified.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have condoled the loss of lives in the accident. Kovind said that he was distressed to learn about the death of students and other people in the accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the incident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each, the prime minister's office said in a tweet.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the loss of lives in the road accident in Kullu district. "The news of death of people including children in a terrible bus accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh is very saddening," Rahul Gandhi said in a Facebook post. "I wish speedy recovery of the injured and pray for the departed souls. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families," he said.
