1st LD Writethru: Bus accident in India kills 12

At least 12 people were killed and 42 others injured after a bus carrying them skidded off a mountainous road and fell into a deep gorge in northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, officials said Sunday.

The accident occured late Saturday night in Joginder Nagar of Mandi district, about 200 km north of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh.

"So far 12 people have died in the accident and 42 others are reported injured," a police official posted in Joginder Nagar police station told Xinhua over telephone.

"Nine people including the driver died on the spot while three others succumbed to injuries in various hospitals."

Officials said apart from local hospitals, the injured have been referred to PGI Chandigarh and Tanda Medical College hospital, where the condition of some was stated to be critical.

Reports said the bus was carrying 54 passengers at the time of accident.

Preliminary investigations by police revealed the bus driver lost control over his vehicle, while making way for another one coming in opposite direction.

India's state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said the authorities faced difficulties in rescue operation in the wake of the ongoing strike of the ambulance employees union.

The local government has ordered probe into the accident, the broadcaster said.

Deadly road accidents often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving are common in India.

Global Road Safety Report 2015 released by WHO last year said India accounts for more than 200,000 deaths annually due to road accidents. Endit