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A tragic bus accident occurred on Monday morning in Almora district, Uttarakhand, claiming the lives of at least 23 people and injuring 10 others. The bus, carrying approximately 35-40 passengers, plunged into a deep gorge near Marchula, leaving several missing. Almora's disaster management officer, Vineet Pal, confirmed that at least 20 fatalities were reported, with injured individuals being transported to nearby hospitals for immediate treatment. Rescue workers are diligently searching for any remaining passengers trapped in the wreckage, receiving assistance from local villagers.
The bus, en route from Naini Danda in Pauri Garhwal district to Ramnagar in Nainital district, is believed to have lost control around 7am near Sarad Bend, plunging into a gorge along the Geet Jagir riverbank. Emergency responders, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and medical teams, immediately reached the scene. Almora SSP and disaster management officials are overseeing the ongoing rescue efforts. The chief minister's office has confirmed that a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has joined the search and rescue operation.
Initial reports from survivors suggest that the impact of the fall ejected some passengers from the bus, while others managed to escape independently. Those who climbed to safety alerted authorities about the accident. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, with officials exploring possibilities of mechanical failure or other factors. The bus is owned by Garhwal Motor Owners Union Ltd (GMOU). Following the accident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami contacted the secretary of the disaster management department, the commissioner of the Kumaon division, and the district magistrate (DM) of Almora to gather information about the accident and instruct them to expedite rescue and relief efforts.
Source: At least 23 dead, 10 injured after bus falls into gorge in Uttarakhand's Almora