Munish Sood
Shimla
Two people, including the conductor of a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, were k*illed and several passengers sustained injuries after the bus met with an accident in Rampur subdivision of Shimla district on Wednesday evening.
The accident occurred around 6:30 pm near Gartola on the Rampur–Khadahan–Kotadhar–Kholighat route when the HRTC bus (HP-06A-6454) reportedly lost control and crashed. Around 22 passengers were travelling in the bus at the time of the incident.
The deceased have been identified as Jai Prakash Negi, the bus conductor and a resident of Ghadoli village in Nankhari tehsil, and 72-year-old Daku Ram, a resident of Shahdu village in Nankhari tehsil. Both d*ied on the spot.
Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, expressed grief over the tragic incident and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He said the district administration has released an immediate relief of ₹20,000 to the family of the local deceased in accordance with the relief norms. Financial assistance for the other deceased will be provided after completion of the required formalities.
All the injured passengers have been shifted to Mahatma Gandhi Seva Medical Complex at Khaneri, Rampur, where they are undergoing treatment. Medical teams have been deployed to provide necessary care.
Rescue and relief operations were launched immediately after the accident. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rampur, Harsh Amarendra Negi, is personally supervising the treatment of the injured and the ongoing relief measures at the hospital.
The district administration has assured all possible assistance to the affected families and said the cause of the accident is being investigated.
