Around 30 people, including 27 school children, two teachers, and a driver were killed on April 9 after a private school bus skidded off the road and fell down into a gorge in Nurpur area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh
Twelve injured passengers, who were rushed to the hospital are reported to be in critical condition.
According to a senior police officer the bus rolled into a 20ft-deep gorge.
“The bus rolled into a 200ft-deep gorge, killing 27 schoolchildren, two teachers and the driver,” said Santosh Patyal, a senior local police official.
“My first priority was to save lives. We will now investigate the reasons for the accident,” he said.
Most of the students were said to be at the age of 10 to 12 years.
The incident happened when around 45 students of Wazir Ram Singh Pathania Memorial Public School were returning home.
Local administration teams and the National Disaster Response Force were involved in the rescue operations.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered.
Many political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Governor Acharya Devvrat and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda have condoled the deaths.
“I am deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. My prayers and solidarity with those who lost their near and dear ones in the accident,” tweeted PMO India.
