At least 17 killed, 22 injured as Delhi-bound bus falls into gorge in Uttarakhand

The accident took place around 1 PM.

All the bodies have been recovered and the survivors rescued, Nagniyal, who supervised the rescue operations, said.

Twenty-two persons who sustained injuries in the accident were first rushed to Dhauladevi primary health centre from where three were referred to a hospital in Haldwani and seven to Almora.

The rest of the injured were discharged after first-aid, the SP said.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, the police officer said.

Meanwhile, expressing grief at the loss of lives in the accident, Chief Minister Harish Rawat announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured and Rs 20,000 each for those who received minor injuries.

Pradesh Congress Chief Kishore Upadhyay also expressed grief at the loss of lives in the accident.