Captain Amarinder Singh Seeks Himachal’s Support In Manikaran Tragedy

CHANDIGARH, July 30: Expressing concern over the safety of the missing pligrims on their way to Manikaran Sahib, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh held a meeting with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh seeking his co-operation in the matter.
 
The private tourist bus from Punjab had skid off the road into the Parvati River in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district last week resulting in the death of at least six people while injuring twelve others. Of the 51 passengers onboard the bus, a majority were from Punjab’s Mansa and Barnala districts.

The tragedy happened in Sarsari village on the Bhuntar-Manikaran road, about eight km from Bhuntar. While six bodies have been fished out, the death toll is likely to shoot up as the bus was still untraceable. The injured have been taken to government facilities in Kullu—nearly 200 km from the state capital of Shimla.

Preliminary investigations suggest the driver lost control around a sharp turn which had the bus plummet down into the swollen river.  The overflowing river and the gushing currents have compounded problems for search and rescue efforts to be carried out in full swing. Moreover, since the bus is yet to be recovered, chances of any survivors are grim.

After meeting his Himachal counterpart, Amarinder Singh said that he was assured of complete cooperation in tracing and assisting the injured victims. He also said that CM Vidarbha Singh was equally concerned and no effort was being spared to trace and help the pilgrims out.

With all possible efforts to locate and aid the survivors on, divers of the Bhakra Beas Management Board have been called upon. The Himachal CM has already called for speeding up and intensifying search and rescue operations and providing all possible aid to the survivors.