Bus hit by boulders on NH-05 in Shimla; One Killed, 15 Injured
Shimla, Sept 3,
A tragic accident occurred on Wednesday when a private bus was struck by rolling stones and boulders on National Highway-05 near Kalimitti, close to Bithal, in Shimla district.
According to officials, the bus (registration number HP63A 1891), operated by Vishal Travels, was hit by debris, leading to the death of a woman. The deceased has been identified as Laxmi Virani, daughter of Ram Charan, a resident of Jalgaon in Maharashtra.
More than 15 passengers sustained injuries in the incident and were rushed to MGMSC Khaneri Hospital for treatment. Police confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated.
The mishap once again showcases the dangers of landslides and rolling boulders along the vulnerable stretches of NH-05 during the monsoon season.
Himachal Pradesh has been grappling with relentless monsoon fury since June 20, which has already claimed over 340 lives. Of these, 182 people have died in rain-related disasters such as landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts, while 159 have lost their lives in road accidents during the rainy season.
Also read: Deadly Himalayan downpours linked to rare weather confluence, says expert
As of Tuesday, 1,334 roads, including four national highways, remain blocked due to landslides. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for several districts, warning of continued heavy rainfall.
As per data by IMD rainfall during the first three days of September was 534 per cent above normal across the state, with Bilaspur, Solan, and Kullu districts recording more than 1,000% excess precipitation. The extreme weather has triggered widespread destruction of private and public property, crop damage, and disruptions to essential services.
Relief and rescue operations by state and national disaster response forces are continuing on a war footing.
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