uttarakhand-36-killed-as-bus-fall-in-deep-gorge

A privately operated bus fell into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Almora district on Monday, killing at least 36 of the about 60 people on board and injuring 24.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the next of those killed in the accident and a financial assistance of Rs one lakh for the injured, according to an official statement.

Officials said the chief minister is on his way to the accident spot.

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.

There were around 60 people travelling in the 43-seater bus. It was an overnight journey when the accident took place, he said, adding that overloading of the vehicle could have led to the accident, he said. 

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. 

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 was 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.

 

Prez, PM condole loss of lives in Uttarakhand bus accident:

President Drouapdi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the loss of lives in the bus accident in Uttarakhand's Almora and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

 

"The news of the death of many people, including women and children, in a road accident in Almora, Uttarakhand is heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.

 

PM Modi expressed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the road accident and wished for the speedy recovery of all the injured.

 

He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for every injured person.

 

The prime minister said the local administration is making every possible effort for relief and rescue.

 

According to officials, around 60 people were on the 43-seater bus when it plunged into the 200-metre gorge and landed close to a rivulet in Almora's Marchula area.

 

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. 

 

Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Senior Congress leader Kharge also expressed grief: 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday expressed grief at the loss of lives in a road accident in Uttarakhand's Almora and urged the local authorities to provide immediate compensation to the victims' families and support to the injured.

 

Kharge and Gandhi, the opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, respectively, also urged local Congress workers to provide all possible help to the families of those affected.

Former Congress chief Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X, "The news of the deaths of many people in a horrific road accident in Almora, Uttarakhand, is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured." "The administration is expected to extend full support to all the affected families. Congress workers are requested to provide all possible support in the relief and rescue work," he added.

 

Kharge also wrote on X.

"My deepest condolences to the affected families. I appeal to the government and administration to provide immediate compensation to the victims and make full aid for proper treatment of the injured," he said on X.

 

"In this hour of grief, the Congress party stands with the affected families. Congress party workers should provide all possible help and service," he said in Hindi.