A bus carrying pilgrims came under a rockfall on the Chamba-Bharmour road in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district on Sunday morning, leaving one passenger dead and several others injured. The incident occurred around 8:30 am near Batti Ki Hatti, when a large stone came loose from the hillside and smashed into the rear portion of the moving bus.
According to Chamba police, everyone on board was travelling back from the Chaurasi temple complex in Bharmour after taking part in Shiv Nuala, the Gaddi community's traditional overnight worship of Lord Shiva. As the bus made its way back with the pilgrims on board, stones suddenly began falling from the hillside near Batti Ki Hatti. One large rock struck the rear of the bus and tore through it, sending panic and screams through the vehicle as passengers scrambled amid the chaos.
Who died, who was injured
The passenger who died has been identified as Sahil Thakur, son of Nathu Ram, a resident of Gared village in Chamba tehsil and district. Police who rushed to the spot found Sahil Thakur dead at the scene. Those injured in the incident have been identified as Kartik Thakur, Guddu Devi, Binta, Gilma Devi and the bus driver, Kulwinder Singh, all residents of Gared village in Goli, Chamba. The fact that the driver himself was among the injured indicates the front portion of the bus was also hit by falling debris.
Police reach the spot, probe underway
A Chamba police team rushed to the site as soon as the incident was reported and ferried the injured to hospital for treatment. Chamba Superintendent of Police Vijay Saklani said an investigation is underway to establish every aspect of how the rockfall happened. Police are working to determine what triggered the stones to come loose from the hillside. The Chamba-Bharmour route runs through hilly terrain and is used by large numbers of pilgrims every year travelling to and from the Chaurasi temple in Bharmour.
