A 26-year-old woman devotee from Delhi lost her life, while two other passengers were injured after a large boulder crashed into a bus carrying pilgrims on the Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, police said on Saturday.
The accident took place on Friday night in the Bhanerpani landslide-prone stretch near Pipalkoti. Officials said boulders suddenly came rolling down the hillside and hit the bus as it was passing through the area.
After receiving information about the incident, police personnel and district administration teams rushed to the spot and began rescue and relief operations. The deceased was identified as Renu Kirodimal, a resident of the Uttam Nagar area of Delhi.
The injured passengers were shifted to a hospital in Pipalkoti for treatment. One of them, Pappu Mishra from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was later referred to the district hospital in Gopeshwar after his condition was found to be serious. Another injured passenger was discharged after receiving first aid, officials said.
Police said all remaining passengers travelling on the bus escaped unharmed. Around 30 to 32 devotees were on board when the accident occurred.
Officials said the administration was keeping a close watch on the situation and providing all necessary support to the affected passengers and their families.
Earlier on Friday, authorities had temporarily suspended the movement of pilgrim vehicles through the Bhanerpani landslide zone due to bad weather, slush and continuous falling debris. Vehicles were stopped at a designated holding point in Simaldali near Pipalkoti.
Traffic movement resumed later in the evening after weather conditions improved and road-clearing operations were completed, officials added.
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