School Kids Among 12 Dead as Bus Falls Into Gorge in HP's Kullu, PM Announces Ex Gratia of Rs 2 Lakh

Twelve people, including some school children, died and three others were injured in a bus accident in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district on Monday. Officials said the incident took place as the private bus fell into a gorge in Kullu.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg said the Sainj bound bus fell into the gorge near Jangla village at around 8.30 am.

District officials and rescue teams have reached the spot, he said, adding the injured were being taken to a nearby hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. “The bus accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh is heart-rending. In this tragic hour my thoughts are with the bereaved families,” PM Modi’s tweet read.

“I hope those injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected,” the tweet added.

The Prime Minister approved an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic bus accident in Himachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister’s Office said in another tweet.

The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each, it said. Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg said the Sainj bound bus fell into the gorge near Jangla village in the district at around 8.30 am.

Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur also offered condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.

“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,” Himachal CM Jairam Thakur said in a tweet.

Himachal Pradesh minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that 12 deaths have been reported so far while three people are seriously injured and hospitalised. Efforts are on to see that people are not stuck somewhere (at the spot). But as per the available info, there were only 15 people in the bus, he said.

The minister added that the is good but there was a landslide on Monday morning at the particular spot. He said attempts were made to get the bus out of there, but it fell into a cliff, leading to the casualties.

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