At least 28 people were killed and 9 others were injured after a bus fell down into a gorge near Rampur, Himachal Pradesh on Thursday morning.
Reports state that the bus was carrying around 40 passengers and met with an accident around 9:15 am near Rampur, which is 130 kms from Shimla.
It was travelling from Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district to Solan when the incident occurred on National Highway 5.
The death toll is expected to rise as the bus rolled down around 200 metres towards the bank of the Sutlej River.
Officials and an emergency team have reached the spot, and a rescue operation is being carried out. The teams are being led by the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Rampur.
#SpotVisuals More than 20 killed after a bus travelling to Solan from Kinnaur rolled down a gorge near Shimla's Rampur. pic.twitter.com/51EVAimQud
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 20, 2017
#SpotVisuals 20 killed after a bus travelling to Solan from Kinnaur rolled down a gorge near Shimla's Rampur; Rescue operation underway pic.twitter.com/Gj8IoBBLn7
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 20, 2017
Latest #Visuals from HP: 28 killed, 9 injured after a bus travelling to Solan from Kinnaur rolled down a gorge near Shimla's Rampur.. pic.twitter.com/OlJx8QKCaU
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 20, 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the victims of the incident.
"My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in tragic bus accident in Himachal Pradesh. May those injured recover quickly," Modi said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi also has expressed her grief and asked the Himachal Pradesh government to take immediate relief and rescue measures.
More details of the incident are awaited.
