<p>All 21 people travelling by a private mini-bus were killed when it skidded off the road and rolled down more than a 500-foot deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district.<br /><br /></p>.<p>This is the second major accident in the state in less than a week.<br /><br />Deputy Superintendent of Police Khajana Ram told IANS that all bodies have been recovered, most of them badly mutilated, from the wreckage of the bus.<br /><br />The bus was on its way from Ucha Tikkar to Renuka-ji, a place famous for a Hindu shrine.<br /><br />The accident took place near Jabrog village, about 70 km from district headquarter Nahan and 150 km from the state capital, in Sangrah subdivision.<br /><br />Ram said 19 people died on the spot. Among the dead 18 were males.<br /><br />Deputy Commissioner Vikas Labroo said the government has ordered a magisterial probe into the accident and has announced a relief of Rs.20,000 to the next of kin of the deceased.<br /><br />The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, he added.<br /><br />Most of the victims were locals and belonged to closely-knit families.<br /><br />Official sources said bad condition of the road owing to recent heavy rains was mainly responsible for the accident.<br /><br />Witnesses said the administration had a tough time in extricating the victims from the wreckage of the bus. Locals started the rescue operations well before the authorities could reach the spot.<br /><br />Governor Urmila Singh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh have expressed grief over the deaths in the accident.<br /><br />Sirmaur is one of remotest places in the state. Buses plying there have poor frequency, and the scarcity of means of transport often leads of overcrowding of vehicles.<br /><br />This is the second major accident in the state in less than a week. Ten people, including four women, died when a private vehicle fell into a gorge in Lahaul-Spiti district Sep 21.<br /><br />The victims, from Kishtwar area in Jammu and Kashmir, were on a pilgrimage.<br /><br />Police records say over 800 people die every year in Himachal Pradesh in road accidents.<br /><br />Police have identified 556 accident-prone spots, including 210 on national highways.</p>
<p>All 21 people travelling by a private mini-bus were killed when it skidded off the road and rolled down more than a 500-foot deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district.<br /><br /></p>.<p>This is the second major accident in the state in less than a week.<br /><br />Deputy Superintendent of Police Khajana Ram told IANS that all bodies have been recovered, most of them badly mutilated, from the wreckage of the bus.<br /><br />The bus was on its way from Ucha Tikkar to Renuka-ji, a place famous for a Hindu shrine.<br /><br />The accident took place near Jabrog village, about 70 km from district headquarter Nahan and 150 km from the state capital, in Sangrah subdivision.<br /><br />Ram said 19 people died on the spot. Among the dead 18 were males.<br /><br />Deputy Commissioner Vikas Labroo said the government has ordered a magisterial probe into the accident and has announced a relief of Rs.20,000 to the next of kin of the deceased.<br /><br />The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, he added.<br /><br />Most of the victims were locals and belonged to closely-knit families.<br /><br />Official sources said bad condition of the road owing to recent heavy rains was mainly responsible for the accident.<br /><br />Witnesses said the administration had a tough time in extricating the victims from the wreckage of the bus. Locals started the rescue operations well before the authorities could reach the spot.<br /><br />Governor Urmila Singh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh have expressed grief over the deaths in the accident.<br /><br />Sirmaur is one of remotest places in the state. Buses plying there have poor frequency, and the scarcity of means of transport often leads of overcrowding of vehicles.<br /><br />This is the second major accident in the state in less than a week. Ten people, including four women, died when a private vehicle fell into a gorge in Lahaul-Spiti district Sep 21.<br /><br />The victims, from Kishtwar area in Jammu and Kashmir, were on a pilgrimage.<br /><br />Police records say over 800 people die every year in Himachal Pradesh in road accidents.<br /><br />Police have identified 556 accident-prone spots, including 210 on national highways.</p>