12 killed as bus plunges into gorge

Twelve passengers were killed and 39 others injured when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus plunged into a deep gorge near Jogindernagar in Mandi district late on Saturday night. The bus carrying over 55 persons was on its way to Rekong Peo, when the mishap took place about 210 km from here. The condition of some of the injured persons was critical, the police said, adding 39 people have been injured. Among the injured, 20 were admitted to Joginder Nagar Hospital and 19 have been rushed to PGI Chandigarh and Government Medical College, Tanda in Kangra, deputy commissioner, Kangra, Mr Ritesh Chouhan said. Chief minister Virbhadra Singh met the injured in Tanda Hospital on Sunday morning and announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each of the deceased. Expressing grief over the mishap, the chief minister said, “It was painful to see the seriously injured at Tanda Hospital. We will provide all possible help to the injured and kin of diseased.” The victims are yet to identified, the police said. The rescue operations are still on and further details are awaited.