India Bus Falls Into Gorge, Killing 52 Passengers
An overcrowded bus stuffed to overflowing with passengers fell 300 feet into a gorge in Northern India, according to The Associated Press. As a result of the accident, 52 people have died, including two children. 46 people were also wounded in the crash.
The Daily Mail reports that the bus driver lost control of the vehicle after experiencing a tire blowout. Unable to steer the vehicle to safety, the bus plunged over the cliff near a sharp turn on the perilous road in the state of Himachal Pradesh, which is 335 miles outside of New Delhi.
Presently, 12 people are in critical condition following the accident. 39 people, including the driver, died at the scene, while 13 others passed away from their injuries after being taken to an area hospital.
Reports are surfacing that the bus was incredibly overcrowded when it plunged into the gorge. Since the vehicle in question only has 60 available seats, some people were forced to ride on the roof. Sunil Chaudhury, administrator of Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district, stated that an investigation into the incident is currently underway, though it’s believed overcrowding may have been a factor in the accident.
According to GMA News, 31 people perished when a passenger bus plummeted off the side of the road in the northeast corner of the country. Authorities said the cause of the accident was directly related to the driver’s reckless maneuvering in rainy weather.
World Health Organization claims that India has the highest vehicular death roll in the entire world. Approximately 110,000 people die every year as a result of overcrowding, speeding, and poor road maintenance. In fact, the mountain road which runs between Delhi and Shimla is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads on the planet.
In 2010, The History Channel debuted it’s show IRT: Deadliest Roads, which followed the adventures of skilled drivers as they attempted to navigate these perilous Indian roadways.
