Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in a road accident in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office shared PM Modi’s message, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to an accident in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the mishap. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.”
According to officials, the bus, carrying 30 passengers, skidded off the road and rolled down a hillside near Tarangala in the Sarkaghat subdivision.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, with police and administrative personnel from the Sarkaghat police station and the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police leading rescue operations. Ambulances were quickly deployed, but access to the crash site posed challenges due to the steep terrain.
Locals were the first to respond and initiated rescue efforts before authorities arrived.
Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma confirmed that four people – two men and two women – died on the spot. Several injured passengers were taken to the Civil Hospital in Sarkaghat. Three critically injured individuals were later referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bilaspur.
The cause of the accident is yet to be determined, and an investigation is underway.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the incident and said the administration has been directed to ensure proper treatment of the injured.
“In this hour of sorrow, I offer my condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he wrote on X.
-IANS