Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
21 injured, 26 still missing; four referred to PGI
Chandigarh, 24 July
Eight pilgrims, including four women, were killed and 21 others were injured when a bus in which they were travelling in plunged into a swollen Parbati river in Manikaran valley of Kullu district at Sarsari, 18 km from here on Thursday evening. The pilgrims hailed from Punjab.
Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kanwar said the injured were rushed to the Regional Hospital here. Four critically injured were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, Kullu DSP Sanjay Sharma said.
The accident occurred when bus driver Surjeet Singh lost control over the vehicle and it rolled down into the river. On receipt of information, the administration immediately rushed a rescue team to the spot.
Fifty-five passengers, including the driver and conductor, were on board. At least 26 passengers were still missing and efforts were on to trace them on war-footing. The body of a passenger was recovered from Jhiri, nearly 10 km downstream.
Sources said the bus started from Barnala in Punjab this morning and it was on way to Manikaran when the accident took place.
An official said the deceased could not be identified and the injured were in a state of shock and were unable to speak.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Kalyan Singh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh mourned the deaths and wished speedy recovery to the injured pilgrims. The Governor has expressed sympathy with the next to the kin of the deceased and prayed for the peace of the departed souls.
The Chief Minister directed the district administration to intensify search operation besides providing all possible assistance for their treatment. The CM said he was pained over the tragic mishap. He expressed the condolences to the families who lost their near and dear ones in the accident.
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and large number of Congress ministers and MLAs also conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families.
Leader of Opposition PK Dhumal, state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti, BJP MPs and MLAs also expressed their solidarity with the deceased and injured.
The BJP targeted the state government for negligence on its part and said the road from Kullu to Manali was full of potholes and despite repeated request to repair the road nothing was done.
State BJP vice-president Ram Singh expressed grief over the incidence and stated that despite repeated reminders to the authorities of the Public Works Department (PWD) potholes and dangerous spots along the road were not looked after due to which such incidences occurred.
