46 injured as HRTC bus hits hillside in Kullu after brake failure; 13 hospitalized
Shashi Bhushan Purohit
Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), August 28, 2026: At least 46 passengers were injured after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus went out of control and hit a hillside near Katahar on the Bhekli-Biasar road in Kullu on Friday afternoon.
The accident occurred during the Raksha Bandhan festival, when the HRTC bus was travelling along the Bhekli-Biasar road. According to the preliminary information, the bus suffered a brake failure, following which the driver lost control and the vehicle collided with the hillside.
Of the 46 injured passengers, 35 are women and 11 are men. All the injured were taken to Civil Hospital Kullu for treatment following the accident.
Thirteen people, including the bus driver, have been admitted to the hospital, while the remaining injured passengers were discharged after receiving first aid. The 13 hospitalised patients are currently undergoing treatment.
Additional District Magistrate, Kullu, Surjeet Singh Rathore said the government was providing all possible assistance for the treatment of those injured in the accident. He assured that no shortage would be allowed in the medical treatment of the injured.
The exact circumstances leading to the accident are being investigated.