At least 36 passengers died and 19 were injured after a bus plunged into a gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora on Monday. The bus, carrying over 30 people, was travelling from Nainidanda in Pauri district to Ramnagar in Nainital when the accident occurred.
Rescue efforts are underway at the accident spot in the Salt region of Marchula, where police and personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are present.
Sources claim that the accident may have been caused by the bus being overloaded.
Almora Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha said that the death toll will likely rise.
The accident was reported to authorities at approximately 9 am by passengers who had fallen from the bus during the incident.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced financial aid of Rs 4 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for each injured person. He has instructed the Commissioner of the Kumaon division to conduct a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
“Very sad news has been received about the casualties of passengers in the unfortunate bus accident that took place in Marchula of Almora district. The district administration has been instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations swiftly,” the Chief Minister said in a post on X (formally Twitter).
The area’s assistant regional transport officer (Enforcement) was also suspended by the Chief Minister.
“The local administration and SDRF teams at the accident site are working rapidly to evacuate the injured and take them to the nearest health center for treatment. Instructions have also been given to airlift seriously injured passengers if required,” he added.
