The driver of a HRTC bus has died and thirty nine passengers injured in a bus accident on Chandigarh – Manali National Highway near Pandoh this Monday morning when a Shimla bound HRTC bus coming from Manali hit a retaining wall at about 10 am.
A Police source said, “Nand Kishor, a resident of Dhandal village from Kotli area died on the spot while 39 others travelling in the bus were injured; all the injured were taken to Zonal Hospital Mandi and eight seriously injured have been shifted to SLBSMC Nerchowk.”
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who is on tour of Mandi district visited the injured in the hospital and inquired about their well being , immediately after reaching Mandi. He has also mourned the death of the driver of the bus. The CM also directed officials to ensure proper treatment of all the injured.
Mandi district administration has given an ex-gratia payment of Rs 8000 each to all injured and Rs 20,000 to the family members of the deceased.