At least 46 people were killed when a bus veered off the road and fell into the Tons River in Gumma, about 15 km from Nerwa in Shimla district, on Wednesday.
The bus was on its way to Tiuni from Vikasnagar in Uttarakhand. There was only one survivor — the bus conductor who jumped midway.
Most of the passengers belonged to the Chopal tehsil of Himachal Pradesh. Police said about 44 bodies had been fished out by the evening. Some more are believed to have been washed away.
Rescue teams, including doctors, paramedics, police and fire brigade staff, were sent from Nerwa and Chopal.
Panel to ascertain cause
Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister G.S. Bali announced a financial assistance of ₹50,000 each to the families of the deceased. He also ordered the constitution of a committee headed by the Regional Transport Officer, Shimla, to ascertain the cause of the accident. It has been asked to submit its report within seven days.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh visited the site of the accident and assured the victims all help. He announced an immediate relief of ₹1 lakh to the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured. Rescue teams and disaster management personnel also arrived from Uttarakhand.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Dev Vrat expressed grief. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who had left for Delhi to meet ED officials in connection with a money-laundering case, sent his condolences.
