Himachal: 13 Dead As Bus Falls Into Gorge In Kullu. PM Modi Calls Accident 'Heart-Rending'

Kullu Bus Accident: A private bus fell into a gorge in Himachal's Kullu district leading to 12 deaths. PM Narendra Modi approved an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased.

New Delhi: Thirteen passengers were killed and two others injured after a private bus fell into a 200-foot deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district on Monday, PTI reported. The school bus was en route from Kullu to Sainj on Neoli-Shansher road in Sainj valley when the accident took place. 

Twelve of the 13 dead have been identified as Tanu, Prem Chand, Fateh Chand, Anita Devi, Susheel Kumar, Khim Dasi, Roshi Devi, Parvati Devi, Jhablu Devi, Amit Kumar Rajak, Aaksh and Rakhi Maya. The injured were admitted to the Kullu regional hospital for treatment.

Elaborating about the situation, Himachal Pradesh Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said, "The road is good but there was a landslide this morning at the particular spot. Admin, MLA Surender Shourie, Kullu Deputy Commissioner are present at the spot. Attempts were made to get the bus out of there, but it fell into a cliff-leading to the casualties."

Earlier, DC Kullu Ashutosh Garg had informed that the incident happened around 8 am. The injured were shifted to local hospitals while teams from Kullu moved to the accident spot.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his response about the accident calling it "heart-rending": "The bus accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh is heart-rending. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected."

As per the Prime Minister's Office, PM Modi has approved an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic bus accident in Himachal Pradesh. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each.

Expressing condolences for the bereaved, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed that the NDRF (NDRF) will also participate in the rescue operations. "I convey my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the bus accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. I have spoken to the Himachal administration, the rescue operation is going on at full speed. NDRF is also going to reach the spot soon. I wish the injured a speedy recovery," he wrote in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Himachal Chief Minister Jairam Thakur informed that the "administration is present at the spot."

"I received news about the private bus accident in Sainj valley of Kullu. The entire administration is present at the spot and the injured are being taken to the hospital. I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and strength to bereaved families," he wrote in a tweet in Hindi.