3 pilgrims die in Himachal

Three pilgrims on way to the famous Manimahesh lake in Bharmaur tribal area of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh died yesterday, reports reaching here said.

Sanjay Kotwal (53) from Udhampur (J&K) and Pramod Aggarwal (56) from Kaithal (Haryana) died near Dhanchho while a woman Kanta Devi (60) died near Gauri Kund just below the Manimahesh lake, reports said.

Police have registered a case and bodies of the victims have been handed over to family members after post-mortem.

Meanwhile, a private bus carrying over 70 passengers rolled down into a gorge near Jawalapur on Mandi-Kullu national highway, about 200 kms from here today.
 

The 42-seater bus was overloaded and more than 50 persons were injured, some of them critically, police said.

The injured persons were rushed to hospital at Nagwain while critically injured persons were admitted to zonal hospital, Kullu.