36 killed as bus falls into gorge in Uttarakhand; PM condoles deaths, CM announces Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia

PTI, NOVEMBER 4, 2024, DEHRADUN: 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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the Almora road accident and said, “My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the road accident and wish speedy recovery for the injured. Local administration is making all efforts for relief and rescue of the victims under the supervision of the state government.”

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 on board the 43-seater bus 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. 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.

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.

KalimNews:  Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences, saying, "My heart goes out to those who lost their loved ones in the tragic road accident in Almora, Uttarakhand. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is making every possible effort to provide relief and carry out rescue operations."

He also announced compensation of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for each injured person.

Officials confirmed that a 42-seater bus, which was carrying 63 people, including the driver and conductor, was well beyond its capacity when it met with a tragic accident. The bus was owned and operated by Garhwal Motor Owner’s Union Limited, a private travel firm based in Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal. Investigators are still working to pinpoint the exact cause of the crash, but police suggest that overcrowding may have contributed to the incident.

This crash, the deadliest in Uttarakhand since July 2018, has claimed the lives of at least 28 people, with 10 of the deceased being women. The bus was traveling from Kainath village in Dhumakot to Ramnagar when it crashed near Kupi, Almora, around 8:45 a.m. The driver, identified as Dinesh Singh, failed to negotiate a sharp bend on the narrow mountain road. The vehicle barreled through a barricade, rolled 200 meters down a steep slope, and crashed into the bottom of a gorge, just meters from a stream.

Visuals from the scene show the bus crumpled on its side. Many passengers were asleep at the time of the accident and were jolted awake as the bus began to slide down the hillside. Police officials indicated that at least 28 people died at the scene, with several others suffering severe injuries.

Some survivors reported that the bus axle collapsed under the excessive weight, which may have contributed to the loss of control. At least 127 people have died in bus accidents in Uttarakhand since June of this year, underscoring the dangers of the region's treacherous, winding roads.

The state's mountainous terrain and narrow roads make travel particularly hazardous, especially during the monsoon and winter months when visibility is reduced, further complicating already difficult journeys .