Eight tourists killed in Himachal accident

Eight tourists, including five women, were killed when a privately-owned mini-bus rolled down a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district Wednesday, an official said. Most of the victims were from Kolkata.

Eight tourists, including five women, were killed when a privately-owned mini-bus rolled down a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district Wednesday, an official said. Most of the victims were from Kolkata.

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The tourists, comprising employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and their family members, were on a private visit to the state when the bus fell into the gorge near Sojha village in Banjar sub-division of Kullu, about 300 km from here. Thirteen people were travelling in the mini-bus.

"Eight tourists were killed when their bus fell into a 1,000 feet deep gorge this (Wednesday) afternoon," Deputy Commissioner M. Sudha Devi told IANS on phone.

She said five injured tourists were rushed to a government hospital in Banjar.

"The BSNL employees and their family members were coming from Ani to Banjar when the accident occurred. Most of the victims belonged to Kolkata," she said.

The ill-fated bus was hired from Punjab, the official added.