Update: Overloaded bus plunges into gorge in northern India, severely injuring 22, including children
by Aditi VermaTragedy struck in northern India’s Uttarakhand when an overloaded bus, carrying around 40 passengers, fell into a 200-meter gorge, killing at least 22 people, including several children. Rescue operations are underway to free trapped passengers, with critically injured survivors being rushed to local hospitals.
The incident took place near Kupi in Ramnagar, on the Pauri-Almora border in Almora district on November 4.
Visuals showed a bus lying precariously at the edge of a mountain, having tumbled down into a riverbank. Passengers, some fallen outside while others remained trapped inside, cried for help. Rescuers worked urgently, navigating the treacherous terrain to assist the stranded individuals. The scene was haunting, filled with tension and desperation.
Upon receiving the news, District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey confirmed that police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams promptly began rescue operations at the accident site in Marchula. Authorities fear that more passengers remain trapped within the bus’s wreckage. Rescuers are working diligently to free those caught inside and transport survivors to nearby medical facilities.
Salt Sub-District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar reported that all injured passengers were transported to the closest hospital for urgent care. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow over the tragic incident. He assured the public that relief and rescue efforts were in full swing and mentioned that instructions were given to airlift any critically injured individuals if necessary.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, but preliminary reports suggest overloading and treacherous terrain may have played a role.