A devastating bus accident in northern India on Monday, November 4, has resulted in the deaths of at least 36 people, with many others injured. The incident occurred in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, where a poorly maintained and overcrowded bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge.
The bus was carrying approximately 60 passengers, exceeding its capacity, and more than 20 individuals have been reported injured, according to Deepak Rawat, a senior official with the state government. Initial estimates suggested that there were 42 passengers on board, which aligns with the bus's official capacity.
Rescue teams have been deployed to the scene, and officials fear that the death toll could rise as seven hospitalized passengers remain in critical condition. Eyewitness accounts and television footage depict the bus mangled and overturned on a rocky slope near a stream, highlighting the severity of the crash.
Rescue workers have been actively pulling passengers from the wreckage and transporting bodies on stretchers. Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that rescue teams are working diligently to evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals, with plans to airlift those in serious condition.
In response to the tragedy, the state government has initiated an investigation into the accident. Vineet Pal, another state official, indicated that preliminary reports suggest the dilapidated bus skidded before tumbling down a gorge estimated to be 200 feet deep. Some passengers reportedly managed to escape or were ejected from the bus upon impact, prompting them to alert authorities.
Following the incident, two transport officials have been suspended for allowing the operation of a bus in such poor condition. The investigation aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding this tragic accident and ensure accountability.
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