Shimla, Mar 7 (UNI) At least five people were killed and 28 injured, four of them seriously, after a private bus fell into a gorge near Naina Devi in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh today, district SDM Baldev Thakur said.

The accident occurred at about 1430 hrs on the Bhakra road in the district, when the bus was on its way to Una town from Naina Devi, he told UNI over the telephone from Bilaspur.

Mr Thakur said four of the seriously injured have been admitted to PGI at Chandigarh and five others have been referred to Government Hospital at Bilaspur.

The cause of the accident was, however, not immediately known, he said.

The SDM said senior district officers had rushed to the accident site to supervise relief and rescue operations.

The district administration has announced an immediate relief of Rs 10,000 each to the next of the killed and Rs 5,000 each to the seriously injured, he said.

State Transport Minister G S Bali has expressed grief and sorrow over the incident, while wishing speed recovery to the injured people.

He also announced an ex gratia of Rs one lakh each to the next of the kin killed in the accident under the Passenger Ex gratia Scheme.

UNI