Bus plunges into gorge

Himachal Pradesh, July 20: At least 30 people died and nine injured in Himachal Pradesh's Rampur after a private bus rolled down a gorge in the hill state on Thursday morning, police officials said.

According to sources, around 40 people were on board the private bus when the accident took place and it's feared that the death toll could rise further. The Bus met with the accident around 9:15 am, police said.

Rescue teams comprising officials from police and district administration reached the spot and started the rescue operations. Sources said that bus departed from Reckong Peo early in the morning and when it reached near Khaneri hospital, the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled down into the gorge around 9 am.

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh directed the authorities to undertake necessary relief measures.

Civic and police administration started the rescue operations and the injured people have been taken to the nearest hospital, around 100 meters away. The possibility of higher casualties cannot be ruled out as the bus rolled down around 200 metres towards the bank of the Sutlej River, Thakur said.