Mandi, April 13: At least 20 passengers sustained injuries after a Volvo bus overturned in the early hours of Sunday on the Kiratpur–Manali four-lane highway near Shilakippar in Mandi district.
The bus, which was headed toward Manali, lost control and turned turtle under unclear circumstances, police said. The incident occurred when most passengers were asleep, causing panic as the vehicle suddenly overturned.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and, with the help of local authorities, shifted the injured to the Zonal Hospital in Mandi. Medical officials confirmed that most of the injuries were not life-threatening, though a few passengers remain under observation.
“Timely intervention by the emergency teams ensured swift evacuation and treatment,” a hospital source said.
Mandi police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Preliminary findings point to overspeeding or a potential technical fault, though no conclusions have been drawn yet.
The accident has reignited concerns over road safety on Himachal Pradesh’s mountainous highways, especially high-speed corridors like the Kiratpur–Manali stretch.
Authorities have urged transport operators to enforce strict safety protocols. “Passenger safety must be the top priority. These routes require heightened caution,” a police official noted.
