By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Fourteen people were killed and an unspecified number of people injured when a private bus fell into a deep gorge near Haripurdhar area of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district on Friday.
The accident occurred when the bus going from Shimla to Kupvi swerved off the road and rolled down near Haripurdhar. Most of the people who died in the accident belong to Shimla and adjoining areas, a top police official said. “We don’t know exact number of people who were travelling in the bus, the police official said. Media reports also gave varied figures of the injured. But the police official said the bus was crowded and 14 people were confirmed dead.
Top district officials rushed to the spot and immediately launched rescue operation. The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives due to a bus mishap and announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.
The PMO India handle in post on X said: “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. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi”
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his grief over the accident. “My heart is filled with sorrow and grief upon receiving the news of the extremely tragic bus accident near Haripur Dhar in Sirmaur district. I extend my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in this accident, and my heartfelt sympathies are with the bereaved families,” Sukhu said.
The district administration has been instructed to provide all possible assistance to the families of the deceased and to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical care, so that the affected families can be supported during this difficult time, he said.