HP bus accident: Rs 5 lakh, Rs 4 lakh for kin of victims

Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister G S Bali today announced an immediate relief of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the Below Poverty Line and Above Poverty Line yesterday's bus accident victims, respectively.
Bali, who visited the accident spot, said a magisterial enquiry has been ordered into the incident and the sub- district magistrate has been asked to submit the report within 15 days.
He said it appears that rash driving was responsible for the yesterday's incident as the road was "quite wide" at the accident spot.
At least 28 passengers were killed and eight injured when a bus plunged into a 500-feet-deep gorge in Rampur district.

Giving details, he said the 37-seater bus was registered on July 31, 2012 for five years.
Bali said in order to put a tab on accidents, the safety stickers would be pasted on the vehicles.

A provision of Rs 50 crores have been made for erecting crash barriers on the roads out of which Rs 16 crore is being spent in Rampur area, he said.
The minister claimed that there has been marginal decrease in road accidents this year.
"583 persons lost their lives in 1,467 accidents as compared to 627 deaths in 1,531 accidents in the corresponding period last year," he said.

Bali said the HRTC has procured 350 new buses out of which 250 mini-buses would be plied on remote and difficult areas.