14 killed, over 20 missing as bus falls into gorge in Himachal

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus carrying about 45 people was on way from Palampur to Ashapuri temple when it fell down from a place 40 km from here, police said.

Fourteen bodies have been recovered, while an injured woman and child have been brought to hospital at Palampur, an official said.

The bus driver Baldev Panwar was among the dead, he said.

The injured woman, identified as Vandana, appeared to have been thrown out of the bus by the impact when the vehicle was rolling down the slopes.

Two teams of the Army from Palampur and Yol Camp and as many police contingents were engaged in search and rescue operations with the help of search lights but darkness, hostile weather conditions and slippery slopes are hampering the work.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner K R Bharti said the search and rescue operations will continue till all the bodies are recovered and injured sent to the hospital.