Uttarakhand: 36 killed as bus falls into 200-m gorge in Almora; 24 injured
Bus was going from Pauri to Ramnagar when it fell into gorge at Marchula in Almora
Thirty-six persons were killed and 24 were injured as a 43-seater private bus carrying 60 people fell into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora district on Monday (November 4).
Four of the injured are serious out of which three were airlifted to AIIMS, Rishikesh and one was taken to Sushila Tiwari Hospital, Haldwani, Almora District Disaster Management officer Vineet Pal said.
Bus plunges into 200-metre gorge
He said overloading of the vehicle could have led to the accident.
District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey said the bus, operated by the Garhwal Motor Owner Association, was on its way from Pauri in Garhwal region to Ramnagar in Kumaon about 250 km away when the accident took place around 8 am. It is an overnight journey.
The 43-seater bus plunged into a 200-metre gorge and landed close to a rivulet in Almora's Marchula area just 35 km before its destination Ramnagar, he said.
Police and personnel of the National and State Disaster Response Forces rushed to the spot to launch a search and rescue operation, he added.
Assistant Regional Transport Officers of Pauri and Almora were suspended following the accident in which a magisterial probe has been ordered.
Visuals from the area pointed to the magnitude of the accident, the vehicle reduced to a mangled mess as it rolled down the forested, rocky slope and stopped just short of a stream. Rescuers could be seen working to pull out the passengers.
Pal said 36 people were killed in the accident and 24 injured. The Garhwal Motor Owners Association bus was carrying people returning after spending the long weekend at home to work.
PM, CM announce ex-gratia
"The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Almora, Uttarakhand. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," PMO said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the next of those killed in the accident and financial assistance of Rs one lakh for the injured, according to an official statement. He has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the accident, the statement added.
Officials said the chief minister was on his way to the accident spot.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the loss of lives in the bus accident.
"The bus accident in Almora, Uttarakhand is extremely sad. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration is providing immediate treatment to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured," Shah wrote on 'X' in Hindi.
Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Dhami said on X, "Received very sad news of casualties of passengers in the unfortunate bus accident that took place in Marchula of Almora district. The district administration has been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations swiftly."
"The local administration and SDRF teams are working swiftly to evacuate the injured and take them to the nearest health centre for treatment. Instructions have also been given to airlift the seriously injured passengers, if required," he said.
(With agency inputs)
