SHIMLA, Sept 3 — Two women were killed and 15 others injured on Wednesday when a private bus was struck by shooting stones along National Highway 05 near Bithal in Shimla district, police said.
The bus, carrying passengers towards Rampur, was caught in the incident about 101 km from the state capital, triggering panic among those on board. The victims were identified as Laxmi Virani of Jalgaon, Maharashtra, and another woman from Nepal.
Authorities said the injured passengers were taken to the Mahatma Gandhi Medical Services Complex in Khaneri, Rampur, where they are undergoing treatment.
Police teams reached the scene soon after being alerted and carried out rescue operations. “Our personnel responded immediately to evacuate the injured and ensure the safety of other passengers,” an official noted.
Landslides and shooting stones are common in Himachal Pradesh during spells of heavy rainfall, often disrupting traffic and posing serious risks to commuters in hilly terrain.
