Punjab Newsline | Kullu

Panic gripped the Bhekli area near Kullu district headquarters on Friday afternoon after an Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus met with an accident on the Beasar Road. The bus was carrying around 60–70 passengers, with heavy crowds reported due to Raksha Bandhan.

Incident took place at around noon when the HRTC bus was travelling from Beasar towards Kullu. According to the information available, the bus suddenly suffered a brake failure while moving along the road.

Driver acted swiftly and attempted to bring the bus under control. He deliberately steered the vehicle towards the hillside, where it collided with the embankment and came to a halt. The timely action prevented the bus from plunging into a deep gorge and potentially averted a major tragedy.

Several passengers were reportedly injured in the accident. Following the incident, panic spread among the passengers and people in the surrounding area. Local residents rushed to the spot and assisted in the rescue operation.

The injured passengers were subsequently taken to Kullu hospital for treatment.

Local residents said the accident occurred at a particularly dangerous stretch of road, where a deep drop lies alongside the road. Had the bus gone off the road and fallen into the gorge, the consequences could have been far more serious.

The incident on Raksha Bandhan also triggered concern among the families of passengers, who reached the hospital to check on their relatives.