Seven killed in Himachal bus accident

Seven people, including two women, were killed Sunday when a privately-owned mini-bus rolled down a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, police said.

The bus rolled down a 500-feet gorge. The bus driver was among the dead, police said.

Nine people were also injured in the accident which took place near Haripurdhar in Sangrah, one of the remotest areas in the state, some 95 km from Nahan.

They have been admitted to government hospitals in Haripurdhar and Sangrah.

The bus was going to Baddi town from Ratwa village, Additional Superintendent of Police N.S. Negi told IANS over the phone.

Most of the victims were locals.

Witnesses said rescue workers had a tough time taking out the bodies from the mangled remains of the bus. They said the condition of the road where the accident occurred was bad.

Records say this is the fourth major accident in Sirmaur. Over 60 people have lost their lives in less than two years during this period.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh directed the district administration to take all possible measures to rescue the survivors and provide them relief.