7 Killed, 11 Injured As Bus Plunges Into 100-Foot Gorge In Himachal Pradesh's Chamba

At least seven people were killed and 11 injured on Saturday when a private bus rolled into a 100-foot-deep gorge on the Tissa-Bairagarh route in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district, police said.

Most of the victims were locals travelling towards Chamba town. The deceased included the bus driver and conductor. The injured were taken to a hospital in Tissa for treatment.

Bus Fell Into Gorge Shortly After Starting Journey

According to preliminary information, around 20 to 25 passengers were travelling on the bus when the accident occurred.

The bus, operated by Sharma Travelers, had departed from Bairagarh for Chamba at around 6.30 am. It had travelled only about three kilometres when the driver reportedly lost control near the Chaluj turn while negotiating a bend. The vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into the gorge, landing on the road below.

Chamba Superintendent of Police Vijay Saklani said the exact cause of the accident was yet to be ascertained and that police would investigate the circumstances leading to the crash.

Locals Begin Rescue Operation

Chaos prevailed at the accident site following the mishap, with local residents beginning rescue efforts before the arrival of police and administrative teams.

Rescue operations were intensified after officials reached the spot. Eyewitnesses said the authorities faced difficulties in extricating victims from the badly damaged bus.

The accident site is reportedly known to be accident-prone and has witnessed several road crashes in the past.

Chamba is among the more remote areas of Himachal Pradesh, where limited availability and low frequency of passenger buses can often result in overcrowding. Police have previously raised concerns over accidents involving private buses and alleged reckless driving by inadequately trained drivers.