26 killed in school bus accident in Himachal Pradesh

At least twenty six children and three adults were killed after a bus carrying school students fell into a gorge near Nurpur in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh on Monday evening.

“Twenty six people, including 24 children, were killed as school bus fell into gorge in Kangra district,” said deputy commissioner Kangra Sandeep Kumar, HT reported.

Kangra Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial said that all the dead students were below the age of 10. The bus driver and two teachers were among the dead.

The death toll could rise as many students were still trapped in the mangled bus, Patial said. The bus belonged to Vazir Ram Singh Memorial Public School.

Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was among the dead, lost control on a sharp curve and the vehicle fell into the 200-feet deep gorge at Cheli village, some 300 km from the state capital Shimla.

A National Disaster Relief Force team has been rushed to the site of the accident.

Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the food and civil supplies minister had been sent to the spot. Thakur has ordered a magisterial inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident. He said the state government would provide all possible assistance to the family members of deceased.