Almora: At least 36 people were killed and several others were injured after a bus met with an accident in Almora district of Uttarakhand on Monday. As per officials, the bus with over 50 passengers aboard went out of control near Kupi village in Marchula and fell into a deep gorge at around 8:30 am.
The bus said to be of Garhwal Motor Owners Union Limited was going from Garhwal to Kumaon when the accident took place at Marchula in Almora, District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey said. Almora District Disaster Management Officer Vineet Pal confirmed the death of 28 people in the mishap.
Sources, however, told ETV Bharat that at least 36 people were killed in the accident and the toll may go up further since several passengers were critically injured as the bus fell into a 200-metre-deep gorge. Police and SDRF personnel along with locals led the search and rescue operation which was completed at around 1 pm.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief at the loss of lives in the accident. "Received very sad news of casualties of passengers in the unfortunate bus accident that took place in Marchula of Almora district. The district administration has been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations swiftly," he said on X.
जनपद अल्मोड़ा के मार्चुला में हुई दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण बस दुर्घटना में यात्रियों के हताहत होने का अत्यंत दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ। जिला प्रशासन को तेजी के साथ राहत एवं बचाव अभियान चलाने के निर्देश दिए हैं।
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 4, 2024
घटनास्थल पर स्थानीय प्रशासन एवं SDRF की टीमें घायलों को निकालकर उपचार के लिए…
"The local administration and SDRF teams 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," he said.
In a separate post, he announced a relief amount of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the injured. The CM also directed Commissioner Kumaon Division to investigate the incident.
जनपद अल्मोड़ा के मार्चुला में हुई हृदयविदारक बस दुर्घटना में अपनी जान गंवाने वाले यात्रियों के परिजनों के प्रति हमारी गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं, दुख की इस घड़ी में हम उनके साथ खड़े हैं। ईश्वर से घायलों के शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ और दिवंगतों की आत्मा को श्रीचरणों में स्थान प्रदान करने के लिए… pic.twitter.com/VeFrEmVGxA
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 4, 2024
CM orders to suspend ARTO
CM Dhami spoke to Secretary Disaster Management, Commissioner Kumaon Division and DM Almora over the phone and took stock of the rescue and relief measures.
Dhami also issued instructions to suspend the ARTO enforcement of the concerned area of Pauri and Almora. Locals said that many migrants who had reached their native villages to celebrate Diwali are in the process of going back to their work locations due to which cabs and buses in the mountainous region are jam-packed with passengers these days. The ill-fated bus too may have been overloaded given the rush of passengers.
Almora SSP Devendra Pincha said that the accident is being investigated. He said 28 people had died on the spot, while 30 injured were sent to Ramnagar Joint Hospital for treatment, out of which 8 people are reported to have died during treatment.
PM Modi Offers Condolences, Announces Ex-gratia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished for speedy recovery of the injured.
"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 making every possible effort for relief and rescue," the PMO quoting the Prime Minister said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Almora, Uttarakhand. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000. https://t.co/KAjq9Agj8i
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 4, 2024
He also has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
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