36 Dead After Bus Plunges into Gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora District
In a tragic accident in Uttarakhand’s Almora district, a 45-seater passenger bus fell into a 200-metre-deep gorge near Marchula, killing 36 people. The incident occurred around 8:25 a.m. when the bus was nearing its destination, Rampur, after an overnight journey from Pauri in Garhwal to Ramnagar in Kumaon. Local villagers were the first to arrive at the scene, providing immediate assistance and rescuing several passengers. Nine of the victims succumbed to injuries after reaching the hospital, while three critically injured passengers were airlifted to AIIMS.
Rescue operations were quickly launched by police and the State Disaster Response Force, with officials from Almora and Ramnagar overseeing efforts on-site. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and directed the district administration to expedite the rescue and relief operations. He announced a compensation of ₹ 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹ 1 lakh for those injured, while also ordering the suspension of Regional Transport Office officials in the area. A magisterial inquiry has been initiated to investigate the accident’s cause.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended condolences to the families of the deceased, assuring them of continued support from the state. The Prime Minister also announced an additional compensation of ₹ 2 lakh for the families of those killed and ₹ 50,000 for the injured.
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