Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Feb: Dehradun district was shaken by a severe road accident this morning when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus plunged into a deep gorge on the Haripur Kwanu–Meenas route. The mishap has claimed three lives and left several passengers injured.
According to the reports, the bus, registered as HP66 A 2588, was travelling from Himachal Pradesh towards Paonta when it lost control and fell into the gorge. Around 30 passengers were on board at the time. Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams reached the site promptly after the conductor informed authorities by phone. Rescue operations were launched immediately, and the injured were taken to hospital for treatment.
Preliminary reports suggest that the accident occurred while the driver was attempting to give way to another vehicle. In the process, the bus veered dangerously off the road and toppled into the gorge. SDRF teams from Dakpathar, Chakrata, Mori and Tyuni were deployed under the directions of Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi.
The deceased have been identified as Yasmin Begum, wife of Nek Mohammad, resident of Kyarlah, Nerwa, Himachal Pradesh, aged 46 years; Richa, wife of Birendra, resident of Vijmal, Nerwa, Himachal Pradesh, aged 30 years; and Dhan Bahadur, resident of Kyarlah, Nerwa, Himachal Pradesh. Authorities confirmed that the bus driver, Dinesh Sharma, was among those killed. The conductor has been named as Jagdish Chand.
Police investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. SDRF has shared video footage of the rescue operation, underscoring the gravity of the tragedy. Families of the victims are in mourning, while injured passengers continue to receive medical care. The incident has cast a pall of grief over the region.
