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Himachal Bus Tragedy: PM Modi, Leaders Mourn Lives Lost in Gorge Plunge

A private bus carrying over 50 passengers skidded off a mountain road and plunged into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, killing at least eight people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance for the families of the deceased and the injured. Leaders across parties, including Priyanka Gandhi and J.P. Nadda, expressed profound grief and called for all possible aid to the victims. Rescue operations were challenging due to the remote, mountainous terrain, with local residents assisting authorities.

Key Points: Himachal Bus Accident: PM Modi, Leaders Express Grief

  • Bus skidded into gorge in Sirmaur
  • At least 8 killed, toll may rise
  • PM announces ex gratia for victims' kin
  • Rescue ops face difficulties in remote area
  • Chief Minister directs all assistance
3 min read

Extremely saddening: PM Modi, other leaders express grief over Himachal bus tragedy

PM Modi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other leaders offer condolences after a bus plunges into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur, killing at least eight.

Extremely saddening: PM Modi, other leaders express grief over Himachal bus tragedy
"The loss of lives... is extremely saddening. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, Jan 9

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, and others on Friday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, where a private bus skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in a remote mountainous area.

"The loss of lives due to a bus mishap in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, is extremely saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured," PM Modi said in a post on X.

He announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each.

Terming the incident extremely heartbreaking, Union Minister J.P. Nadda said he had asked BJP state president Rajeev Bindal and Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur to closely monitor the relief and rescue operations.

"Hundreds of BJP workers are engaged at the spot to assist the injured. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray to God to give them strength to endure this difficult time," he said in a post on X.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed grief over the tragedy. "The news of the deaths of several people due to a passenger bus falling into a gorge in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," she said, appealing to the state government and Congress colleagues to extend all possible assistance to the victims.

At least eight people were killed and several others injured when the bus, carrying over 50 passengers, met with the accident near Haripurdhar on Friday. Officials said the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue.

According to the police, the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. The bus was travelling from Shimla to Kupvi via Rajgarh when it reportedly lost control while descending a steep gradient. Most of the injured, many of them local residents, were rushed to the government hospital in Haripurdhar.

The district administration faced considerable difficulty in extricating victims from the badly mangled vehicle, while local residents began rescue efforts even before authorities reached the spot.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed district authorities to provide all possible assistance to the families of the deceased and ensure the best medical care for the injured. He prayed for peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families.

Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, in a post on X, termed the incident "extremely distressing" and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, praying for the swift recovery of those injured.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
It's good to see leaders across parties expressing solidarity. But beyond condolences and ex-gratia, we need a permanent solution. Why are private buses often overloaded and in poor condition on these routes? The regulatory system has failed.
P
Priya S
Om Shanti. The news is devastating. The local residents starting rescue before authorities arrived shows the spirit of our people. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. The compensation is necessary, but the real tribute will be preventing such accidents.
D
David E
A respectful criticism: While the financial aid is announced promptly, the follow-up medical care and long-term support for the injured and families often fades from headlines. I hope the state government ensures sustained support.
A
Ananya R
This is so sad. Many of the passengers were locals just going about their day. Haripurdhar is a remote area, and the hospital facilities there are limited. I hope the seriously injured are airlifted to better hospitals in Shimla or Chandigarh if needed.
V
Vikram M
The bravery of the local people who started the rescue is commendable. In our hills, communities are the first responders. The administration must now focus on the cause—was it brake failure, driver error, or road condition? We need answers to save future lives.

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