In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a privately operated bus carrying about 40 passengers plunged into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Almora district early Monday morning, claiming at least 23 lives. The bus, operated by the Garhwal Motor Owner Association, was en route from Pauri in the Garhwal region to Ramnagar in the Kumaon region, a distance of approximately 250 kilometres. According to officials, the bus veered off the road and fell into the 200-metre-deep gorge in Marchula, around 35 kilometres from its destination.
Witnesses described the terrifying scene that unfolded around 8 AM, as the bus tumbled down the rocky, forested slope, ultimately coming to a halt near a stream. The vehicle was left a twisted wreck, evidence of the sheer force of the impact.
Immediate rescue efforts were launched by the police and personnel from both the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Vineet Pal, Almora's District Disaster Management Officer, shared that 22 people were killed instantly, with another passenger succumbing to injuries en route to the hospital in Ramnagar. Rescuers worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to pull survivors from the mangled remains of the bus, with 15 injured passengers transported to the nearest hospital for urgent medical attention.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. In a statement on social media, he said, "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." He further assured the public that additional resources would be mobilised as necessary, including airlifting critically injured passengers if required.
The accident underscores the treacherous conditions that drivers and passengers face on the narrow and winding mountain roads of Uttarakhand. Locals have long voiced concerns over road safety in the area, where landslides and steep drops add to the inherent risks. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, examining factors such as road conditions and the possibility of driver fatigue, given that it was an overnight journey.
(With inputs from agencies)
