Shimla, July 21,
Despite the lean monsoon season, tragic incidents are already looming in Himachal Pradesh. An HRTC bus traveling from Keylong to Shimla narrowly avoided a major mishap near Naumile on NH-3 between Mandi and Pandoh, as confirmed by the state disaster management authority.
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Around 11:30 PM on Saturday night, amid heavy rain, a large boulder fell from a hill onto the moving bus. The rock struck the front part of the bus, causing minor injuries to three passengers and blocking the highway for about an hour.
The bus, from the Keylong depot, was en route from Manali to Shimla and was full of passengers when the incident occurred. This section of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway is notorious for landslides and dangerous points, particularly between Mandi and Pandoh, where overhanging rocks pose significant risks.
It’s important to note that the National Highway Authority has not fully restored this four-lane road after last year’s rain-induced disasters. With the current monsoon season just beginning, the threat to travelers remains substantial.
