At least seven persons were killed and 11 others injured after a private bus on the Bairagarh-Chamba route skidded off the road and fell onto a road below at Chalunj in Churah subdivision of Chamba district early Saturday morning.The bus was on its way to Chamba from Bairagarh when the accident occurred near the Chalunj bend. The vehicle reportedly skidded off the road, overturned and landed on the road below.Several passengers were trapped beneath the overturned bus. Rescue teams and local residents reached the spot and efforts were being made to extricate those trapped.Backhoe loaders were deployed to lift the bus and rescue passengers from underneath the wreckage. The rescue operation was under way at the time of filing this report.The identities of the deceased and the exact number of injured were yet to be ascertained. The injured have been shifted to nearby health facilities. The casualty count could rise as many people were stated to be in serious condition.Churah MLA Hans Raj expressed grief over the loss of lives. Describing the accident near Chalunj as “extremely painful”, he expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.The accident has once again highlighted the risks of travelling on the mountainous roads of Churah, where steep slopes, narrow stretches and sharp bends pose a constant challenge to motorists and public transport operators.The latest tragedy comes months after one of the district’s deadliest road accidents this year. In May, eight persons, including seven tourists from Bangaluru and their driver, were killed when their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge on the Bairagarh-Sach Pass Road.The latest accident has again raised concerns over road safety and the vulnerability of public transport on the district’s treacherous mountain roads.Further details are awaited.