New Delhi, November 4
20 passengers were killed and many are feared trapped after a bus fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand's Almora. At least 35 people were inside the bus when the accident took place.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) alongwith Uttarakhand police have roped in for rescue operations.
The accident was reported to authorities at around 9 am by passengers who had fallen from the bus during the incident
In a post on X, Dhami said, “Very sad news has been received about the casualties of passengers in the unfortunate bus accident that took place in Marchula of Almora district. The district administration has been instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations swiftly”.
He further added, "The local administration and SDRF teams at the accident site are working rapidly to evacuate the injured and take them to the nearest health center for treatment. Instructions have also been given to airlift seriously injured passengers if required," he added in his post.
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. He directed the Commissioner of the Kumaon division to conduct a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
