8 Killed, 10 Injured as Bus Overturns in Himachal's Chamba District

At least eight people, including the driver and conductor, were killed and 10 others injured after a private bus overturned and fell onto a lower road in Chamba district on Saturday morning. The accident occurred in the Devikothi area along the Bairagarh-Tissa road, leaving several passengers trapped beneath the damaged vehicle.

The bus, operated by Sharma Bus Service, was travelling from Bairagarh to Chamba when the crash occurred. Officials said it departed from Bairagarh at approximately 6.30 am and met with the accident after covering nearly three kilometres. There were 18 people aboard the vehicle, including its driver and conductor, at the time of the incident.

According to preliminary information, the bus overturned on the mountain road before falling onto another section of road below. The impact severely damaged the vehicle and trapped some passengers under the wreckage. Local residents who heard cries for help rushed to the accident site and immediately alerted the police and district authorities.

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A joint rescue operation was launched by personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, police, Home Guards, Fire Services and the Revenue Department. Emergency teams worked to free the trapped passengers and retrieve the victims from the wreckage. The injured were provided initial assistance before being transported to nearby medical facilities for further treatment.

Of the 10 injured passengers, six were reported to have sustained serious injuries and were referred to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba. The Chamba District Disaster Management Authority confirmed the death toll and number of injured. Authorities had not officially released the identities of the victims at the time of the latest update.

Officials have opened an investigation to determine what caused the bus to overturn. The Bairagarh-Tissa road is a 27-kilometre mountain route in the remote Churah Valley, an area characterised by narrow roads, sharp turns and steep slopes. The stretch is also an important connection for travellers heading towards the high-altitude Sach Pass.

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