Update 1: Horrendous accident unfolds as overloaded bus plunges into gorge, multiple passengers critically injured; rescue underway
by Aditi VermaIn a tragic incident in northern India’s Uttarakhand, an overloaded bus carrying approximately 60 passengers fell into a 200-meter gorge.
The incident took place near Kupi in Ramnagar, on the Pauri-Almora border in Almora district on November 4.
Visuals showed the bus precariously positioned on the steep mountain edge after tumbling down to rest along the rocky riverbank. Some passengers were flung from the vehicle, lying on the ground amidst debris, while others remained trapped inside, desperately calling out for help. Rescuers, clad in high-visibility gear, worked diligently to free the injured, navigating the rugged terrain and sheer drop-off nearby. Ambulances waited along the narrow road, as rescue teams steadily transferred the injured onto stretchers. The air was thick with tension and sorrow, as the rescuers raced against time to save as many lives as possible.
According to reports, the Almora District Control Room stated that a total of 36 dead bodies had been recovered, with 28 of them retrieved by the SDRF during the rescue operations. Approximately 19 passengers were injured, with 3 airlifted on the advice of the chief minister. The bus, identified as UK12PA-0061, was en route from Kirat to Ramnagar when it lost control and fell near Marchula.
Upon receiving news of the accident, the Almora District Control Room alerted the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Uttarakhand Police, who promptly launched a rescue mission. Three SDRF teams were dispatched to the scene with essential equipment, and a backup team was sent from Rudrapur due to the incident’s sensitivity.
The bus, operated by the Garhwal Motor Owner Association, was traveling from Pauri in the Garhwal region to Ramnagar in Kumaon when it veered off the road about 35 kilometers from its destination. At around 8 a.m., the 43-seater bus plunged down the slope, coming to rest near a rivulet in a forested area.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with updates expected soon.