A bus mishap in Himachal Pradesh claimed more than 20 lives on Tuesday when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus fell into a gorge at Katarghat, 65 km from Shimla. The bus carrying over 30 persons was on its way from Shimla to Sawerakhud.

Seventeen bodies have been recovered so far. The condition of seven other passengers is stated to be serious and they have been admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital in Shimla.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh asked the Shimla district administration to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing. The Chief Minister also visited the hospital and asked the hospital administration to provide all possible medical help to the injured.