Shimla: At least 30 people were feared killed and 25 injured when a bus fell into River Ravi in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh this afternoon (Dec 2, 2003), official sources said.

The overcrowded Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus, with some passengers travelling on the roof, was on its way from Bharmaur to Chamba when it plunged into the river near Gaira, 30 km from Chamba, they said.

Twenty-five bodies have been extricated so far from the submerged bus, the sources said. Two passengers succumbed to their injuries in a hospital at Chamba.

Some passengers are feared trapped inside the bus and efforts were being made to pull out the bus from the river, they said.

The condition of some of the injured, admitted to the hospital, was stated to be "critical", they said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sumit Chaudhary and Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav along with a team of doctors reached the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations, the sources said.

PTI