New Delhi: The death toll in the bus accident in Almora has gone up to 36, with 19 injured. Notably, the bus fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora on Monday.It was going from Pauri district’s Nainidanda to Nainital’s Ramnagar when the accident took place.
Police and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are at the accident site in Marchula’s Salt area and rescue operations are on.
Almora Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha said that the death toll is expected to rise.
The accident was reported to authorities at around 9 am by passengers who had fallen from the bus during the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured, news agency ANI reported. He directed the Commissioner of the Kumaon division to conduct a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
The Chief Minister also ordered the suspension of the assistant regional transport officer (Enforcement) of the area.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: A Garwal Motors Users’ bus fell into a gorge near Kupi in Ramnagar at Pauri-Almora border. Deaths and injuries feared. Search and rescue operation underway. Details awaited.
(Video: SDRF) pic.twitter.com/dzSgKw6tkF
— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2024
- iDhami has directed the administration to carry out relief operations swiftly. He has also instructed that the severely injured passengers be airlifted.
“The unfortunate news has come in regarding the casualties of passengers in a bus accident that occurred in Marchula, Almora district. The district administration has been directed to swiftly carry out relief and rescue operations. Local administration and SDRF teams are actively working at the accident site to evacuate the injured and transport them to the nearest health centre. Instructions have also been given to airlift severely injured passengers if necessary,” Dhami tweeted.