SHIMLA:  The driver of ill-fated HRTC Bus was killed and 39 passengers were injured in the bus accident near Pandoh. The injured were left in lurch after the accident as there was no immediate arrangement to transport the injured to the zonal hospital.

The pictures of the injured fending for themselves went viral on social media as they remained stranded on the accident site. The bus hit the  hillside and tumbled down on the road side, said the police. 

Meanwhile Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur visited zonal hospital Mandi to enquire about the health of victims injured in bus accident at Deyod near Pandoh area in Mandi district in which driver of the bus died while 39 sustained injuries. He  interacted with the all the injured persons and assured that the State Government would provide them best health care facility and wished them speedy recovery.

He prayed to the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members to bear this irreparable loss.

Deputy Commissioner Mandi Arindam Choudhary apprised that Rs. 2.50 lakh have been provided as immediate relief to next of kin of deceased and injured people.

MLA Rakesh Jamwal, Chairman Zila Parishad Pal Verma, Mayor MC Mandi Deepali Jaswal, Deputy Mayor Varinder Bhatt, Councillors, Chairman APMC Daleep Singh, Deputy Commissioner Arindam Choudhary SP Shalini Agnihotri, CMO Dr. Devender Sharma and other prominent people were present on the occasion.