36 people die after bus falls into a gorge in Uttarakhand, CM suspends officials

“The incident took place Monday morning and the district administration received information about the bus falling into a 150-meter-deep gorge around 8.45 am,” said Almora District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Vineet Pal.

While 28 people, including 8 women and a child died on the spot, eight others died while undergoing treatment at the Ramdutt Joshi Hospital in Ramnagar.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the incident as “unfortunate”.

“The district administration has been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations swiftly. The local administration and SDRF teams at the site of the incident are working swiftly to evacuate the injured and take them to the nearest health centre for treatment. Instructions have also been given to airlift the seriously injured passengers if required,” Dhami said in a post on X soon after the incident

Later, the CM, who visited the accident site and hospitals, announced that some officials associated with the Assistant Regional Transport Officer were being suspended in the affected areas of Pauri and Almora. Additionally, he directed the Commissioner of the Kumaon Division to initiate a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

He also announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the wounded.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also voiced their condolences over the incident.

“My condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the road accident in Almora, Uttarakhand. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in every possible effort for relief and rescue,” the PM said in a post.

Meanwhile, the Prime Ministers’ Office too announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to wounded.