Almora: A horrific road accident in Uttarakhand’s Almora district on Tuesday morning has shaken the entire state. A passenger bus on the Bhikiyasain-Vinayak motor road went out of control and fell into a deep gorge, killing at least six people and injuring several others.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep condolences over the accident and stated that relief and rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing and the government is continuously monitoring the situation.
CM Dhami wrote on the social media platform ‘X’, “Extremely sad and heartbreaking news has been received regarding the deaths of passengers in a bus accident on the Bhikiyasain-Vanayak motor road in Almora district. May God grant the departed souls peace and strength to the bereaved families to bear this loss.”
He further stated that the passengers injured in the accident were immediately admitted to nearby hospitals, and the seriously injured were referred to advanced medical centers for better treatment.
Tragedy caused by falling into a ditch, increasing the challenge for rescue workers
Regarding the incident, officials stated that the accident occurred near Shilapani on the Bhikiyasain-Vinayak-Jalali motor road. The bus was traveling from Bhikiyasain to Ramnagar and had departed from Dwarahat at around 6 a.m.
On the way, the bus suddenly lost control and fell into a ravine hundreds of meters deep. Upon receiving information about the accident, police, district administration, and SDRF teams rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation, challenging the difficult terrain and distance.
According to officials, there were approximately 17-18 passengers on board. Several injured have been admitted to the government hospital in Bhikiyasain.
Senior officials rush to the scene, investigation underway
Rescue operations are facing difficulties due to the accident site being approximately 100 kilometers from the district headquarters. Despite this, teams are continuously making efforts to ensure that no passengers are left behind.
The district administration also stated that the bus driver and conductor are safe and in stable condition. An investigation into the cause of the accident has been initiated.