A tragic road accident occurred on Tuesday morning in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district when a passenger bus fell into a 200-foot-deep gorge in the Kalkhar area. The incident happened around 9 a.m. as the bus was traveling from Baldwara to Mandi. One person lost their life, reportedly crushed under the vehicle, while approximately 20 to 25 others sustained injuries.
Local residents quickly alerted authorities, prompting police and rescue teams to rush to the scene and begin relief operations. Despite persistent rainfall hampering efforts, the injured were rescued from the wreckage with the assistance of locals and emergency personnel. Those with serious injuries were referred to Nerchowk Medical College, while others received treatment at the Community Health Centre in Rewalsar.
A crane was deployed to lift the overturned bus and rescue the driver, who had become trapped inside. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver may have lost control of the overloaded bus on the slippery, rain-soaked road. Officials also pointed to the vehicle’s poor condition and potential negligence as contributing factors.
The bus, reportedly carrying more passengers than its permitted capacity, overturned as it rolled down the gorge, trapping several individuals underneath. The rocky terrain and adverse weather conditions further delayed the rescue operation.
The district administration has launched a formal inquiry to determine the exact cause of the crash. Further details are awaited as investigations continue.