At least 10 persons, including eight women, were killed and 40 others injured when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus fell into a 150-foot gorge at Balghar near Theog, 35 kms from here, this evening.
The HRTC bus was on its way from Theog to Neri in Hamirpur and met with the accident within a few minutes after it left the Theog bus stand.
"Eight women and two children died on the spot and their bodies have been handed over to their relatives after on-the- spot post-mortem, while the injured have been rushed to the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC)," Shimla Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dullar said.
The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained and police have registered a case and started investigations.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmila Singh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh have expressed grief over the accident, and conveyed their condolences to the relatives of the victims.
Expressing grief over the accident, State Transport Minister G S Bali announced an immediate relief of Rs 2.50 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, and injured persons.
Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes, who is also the local MLA, has expressed grief over the accident. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the mishap.
