Driver dead as private bus carrying over 20 passengers plunges into gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu

One person died, and several others were injured after a private bus plunged into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu on Tuesday, officials said.

The driver of the bus died on the spot while the injured were taken to the nearby hospital by locals in Anni subdivision of Kullu. There were around 20 to 25 people onboard the bus at the time of the accident, they added.

“The bus driver died on the spot. Other passengers have been moved to the hospital for primary treatment. Our team is on the spot,” Kullu District Collector Torul S Raveesh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Those who suffered minor injuries were discharged after primary treatment, while the ones injured seriously have been referred to Rampur, she added.

The bus was coming from Karanthal and fell into the gorge near the Shwad-Nagan Road in Kullu’s Anni, officials said.

Visuals showed the bus completely mangled while the injured people could be seen lying on the ground as they fell out of the vehicle due to strong impact.

Hearing the loud sound of the crash, locals rushed to the spot and carried out a rescue operation, while police teams also reached the accident site.

Further details are awaited.

With inputs from Manminder Arora