Shimla, Feb 3, At least three passengers lost their lives and 31 others were injured after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus plunged into a deep gorge near Kwanu in Shimla district on Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 9:30 am near Shudoi Khad, triggering panic in the area and prompting immediate rescue operations by local residents and the administration. The ill-fated bus (HP-66A-2588) was on its scheduled route from Chaupal–Nerwa in Shimla district to Paonta Sahib, passing through Vikasnagar in Uttarakhand. According to preliminary information, 34 passengers were on board at the time of the mishap. Officials confirmed that three passengers died on the spot, while 31 others sustained injuries, some of them serious. The injured were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment. Doctors attending to the victims said the condition of a few injured passengers remains critical. Eyewitnesses reported that the bus went out of control on a narrow mountain stretch before plunging into the gorge. Hearing the impact, local villagers immediately rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts even before official teams arrived. Due to the steep and difficult terrain, relief and evacuation operations were challenging. However, coordinated efforts by villagers, police, and district authorities ensured that all injured passengers were evacuated and shifted to hospitals in time. Confirming the incident, HRTC Managing Director Nipun Jindal said three fatalities had been reported so far. He stated that a corporation team was dispatched to the site immediately and that rescue and relief operations were being carried out on a war footing. The district administration and transport department officials are present at the spot. While the exact cause of the accident is yet to be officially established, local sources indicated that the bus was attempting to give way to another vehicle on the narrow road when it edged too close to the roadside. A portion of the road embankment reportedly gave way at that moment, causing the vehicle to lose balance and roll into the gorge. The administration has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident to ascertain the precise cause and fix responsibility.
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