Locals helping in rescue operation after a private bus fell from the road at Haripurdhar area in Sirmaur district on Friday

SHIMLA: At least 14 passengers died, and 52 others were injured when the private bus carrying them plunged into a 500m-deep gorge near Haripurdhar in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur on Friday. The 39-seater bus, moving from Shimla to Kupvi via Rajgarh, apparently lost control and rolled down the hillside roughly 140km into its journey. There were seven women and two children among the deceased. Police had yet to identify one woman victim. Nine of the victims were from Kupvi tehsil in Shimla district, while the others belonged to Ronhat, Dadahu, Nauradhar and Haripurdhar in Sirmaur district. Locals rushed to the scene to rescue survivors from the wreckage before police arrived. The injured were initially taken to hospitals in nearby Dadahu and Sangrah, while those critical were later transferred to Nahan Medical College and Solan Civil Hospital. Regional transport officer Sona Chandel said the bus owner held all mandatory documents. The vehicle had a valid permit until July 8, 2029, a fitness certificate valid till Feb 14, and insurance coverage until Feb 12. President Droupadi Murmu condoled the tragedy, terming it extremely heartbreaking. Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed district authorities to provide all possible assistance to the victims’ families and ensure the best medical care for the survivors.