7 killed, 11 injured as bus skids off road after driver loses control in Himachal

The accident occurred on Saturday morning when the bus was travelling from Bairagarh to Chamba. The driver reportedly lost control while negotiating the treacherous mountain stretch.

In Short

• The driver lost control while negotiating the treacherous mountain stretch
• The disaster response force, police and other teams launched rescue operation soon
• Death toll may rise as passengers remain feared trapped under wreckage
• PM Modi, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu expressed their condolences

At least seven passengers were killed, and 11 others sustained severe injuries after a private bus in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district skidded off the road. As per sources, the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a treacherous mountain stretch, resulting in the bus falling onto a lower road.

Sources further told India Today that the accident occurred around 7.15 am on Saturday on the Bairagarh-Tissa road. The bus had left Bairagarh for Chamba and was carrying 22 passengers when the driver suddenly lost control.

The mishap took place on the 27-kilometre Bairagarh-Tissa mountain route in the remote Churah Valley, a challenging stretch known for its narrow roads and steep drop-offs. The route also serves as a key approach to the high-altitude Sach Pass.

Authorities responded swiftly after learning about the incident. A search and rescue team comprising officials from the NDRF, police, home guards, fire services, and the state's revenue department soon rushed to the spot and began the rescue operation. With the help of the locals, they rescued 11 injured people and sent them for treatment.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are underway as the authorities fear many are still trapped under the wreckage of the damaged bus. They also fear that the death toll might increase with time.

LOCALS HEAR SCREAMS OF PASSENGERS

A report by the news agency PTI suggests that the residents heard the screams of the passengers and rushed to the accident spot. They soon alerted the local police, and the rescue operations were launched shortly after that.

Of the 11 injured passengers, six who suffered serious injuries have been referred to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba for treatment. The remaining injured passengers are also being provided medical attention.

Police further said an investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances that led to the accident. The preliminary information till now indicates that the driver lost control of the bus near Chalunj Mor before the vehicle plunged from the road.

The accident comes amid a challenging monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh, with rain frequently disrupting road connectivity and increasing the risk of landslides and road accidents in the state's mountainous districts.

According to police data, 78 people have died in road accidents across Himachal Pradesh during the ongoing monsoon season between June 30 and August 7.

PM MODI, SUKHVINDER SINGH SUKHU EXPRESS CONDOLENCES

Political leaders across parties expressed their condolences over the loss of lives in the accident.

Through a post on X, shared by the Prime Minister's office, PM Modi said, "The loss of lives due to a mishap in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. May those injured recover at the earliest."

The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, also shared his grief over the tragic death of seven citizens.

"The news of the demise of 7 people and injuries to 11 others in the bus accident near Chaluj Morh on the Tissa-Bairagarh route in Chamba district is extremely heartbreaking. I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. May God grant a place at His divine feet to the souls of the departed and bestow strength upon the bereaved families to bear this immense sorrow," he wrote on X.

The Chief Minister further instructed the district administration to ensure adequate treatment for the all the injured.

- Ends