At least twenty-three people died after bus fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand's Almora District. The accident took place on Monday (November 4) morning. Some media reports have pegged the number of dead at 38. News agency ANI quoted police spokesperson IG Nilesh Anand Bharne who said that at the time of the accident, more than 45 people were travelling in the bus which was going from Golikhal area to Ramnagar.
A major road accident has taken place in #Almora#Uttarakhand
A bus has fallen into a ditch near Marchula. Many people are reported dead in the accident.
While many people have been injured. Relief and rescue operations are being carried out at the spot.
The SDRF team has… pic.twitter.com/sprQ19iTuG— Indian Observer (@ag_Journalist) November 4, 2024
After authorities were alerted, relief and rescue operations were launched as was an investigation to find reason of the accident. State Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed along with the police and those injured were being taken to hospitals for treatment.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand | The seriously injured in the Almora bus accident have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh and Sushila Tiwari Hospital Haldwani
Source: State Information Department pic.twitter.com/L7ri9QF7ZU— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2024
At the time of filing of this story, the commissioner and DIG (Kumaon) were on their way to co-ordinate the rescue effort at the site of the accident.
Chief Minister takes cognisance
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken cognisance of the accident and has spoken with senior officials on phone. He has issued instructions to speed up relief and rescue work.
The CM took to X (formerly Twitter) and made a post about the accident.
जनपद अल्मोड़ा के मार्चुला में हुई हृदयविदारक बस दुर्घटना में अपनी जान गंवाने वाले यात्रियों के परिजनों के प्रति हमारी गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं, दुख की इस घड़ी में हम उनके साथ खड़े हैं। ईश्वर से घायलों के शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ और दिवंगतों की आत्मा को श्रीचरणों में स्थान प्रदान करने के लिए… pic.twitter.com/VeFrEmVGxA
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 4, 2024
ANI has reported that Dhami has ordered suspension of ARTO enforcement in the area. He has also directed officials to provide Rs 4 lakh to families of the accused and Rs 1 lakh to those injured in the accident.