3 killed, 39 injured as bus rolls down gorge in Kullu

Kullu: Three persons were killed and 39 others injured when a private bus they were travelling in fell into a ditch in Anni area of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday morning.
The deceased have been identified as passengers Keshav Ram (55), Gulshan (32), and driver Dina Nath (56).
The accident occurred around 11.30am, when the bus with 42 persons on board, including the driver, was going from Karsog to Anni. The reason for the accident is unknown. The bus fell down more than 100 metres near Shkelar village. On hearing the bus fall down and passengers scream, locals gathered at the spot and took out the injured people from the wreckage. Locals also informed the police and emergency services.
As the news spread, friends and relatives of the injured also reached the spot and helped in taking the passengers up to the road. Locals also took the injured to the nearby govt hospital in Anni in their own vehicles.
According to a Kullu district official, the condition of most of the injured passengers was stable and they were out of danger.
“In all, 25 passengers have been referred to hospitals in Rampur and Shimla, and the rest have been admitted to the hospital in Anni. The administration sent emergency relief teams to the spot immediately and all injured were hospitalised without wasting time,” said the official.
According to locals, crash barriers have not been installed on the entire stretch of the road despite repeated demands. “Karsog to Anni road, especially Shwad to Nigan, is narrow and busy. We have been asking authorities to at least install crash barriers, but the administration has refused,” said Amit, a resident of Anni.
Kullu administration gave a relief amount of Rs 5,000 each to the injured and Rs 25,000 each to the family members of the deceased. Chief minister Sukhvinder Sukhu and deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri have condoled the death.