43 killed as bus falls into river in Shimla

Forty-three people were killed and a dozen were injured when a Uttarakhand based private bus veered off the road and fell into the Tons River in Boldhar, about 15 km from Nerwa sub division of Chopal in anterior Shimla.

The bus was coming to Tyuni in Chopal from Vikasnagar in Uttarakhand. The 54-seater bus was packed to capacity and the accident impact was so hard that there are few chances of any survivors, said police sources.

A majority of the passengers belonged to Chopal tehsil of Himachal Pradesh.

About 43 bodies have been fished out so far, said Vinod Dhiman ASP, Sirmaur who is involved in the rescue operation. Some of the bodies were washed away, he added.

Rescue teams, including doctors, paramedics and police and fire brigade staff have been sent from Nerwa and Chopal.