Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
A private bus carrying around 60 passengers fell into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora district on Monday morning, resulting in the death of at least 36 people and injuring 24 others. The bus, operated by the Garhwal Motor Owner Association, was travelling from Pauri in the Garhwal region to Ramnagar in Kumaon when it went off the road near Almora's Marchula area, about 35 kilometers short of its destination. Around 8 a.m., the 43-seater bus veered down a 200-metre slope, stopping near a rivulet in a forested, rocky area.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended condolences, offering ex-gratia support from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund: Rs 2 lakh for each family that lost a loved one and Rs 50,000 for those injured. "The local administration is making every possible effort for relief and rescue," PM Modi stated.
President Droupadi Murmu wrote on X in Hindi, “The news of the death of many people, including women and children, in a road accident in Almora, Uttarakhand is heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
Assistant Regional Transport Officers of Pauri and Almora were suspended, and a magisterial inquiry has been ordered.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also posted on X, expressing sympathy. "The bus accident in Almora, Uttarakhand is extremely sad. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration is providing immediate treatment to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath shared similar sentiments, stating, “The loss of lives in an unfortunate road accident in Almora, Uttarakhand is extremely sad. My condolences are with the grieving families of the deceased. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured.”
Visuals from the site depicted the bus wreckage at the bottom of the ravine as National and State Disaster Response Force teams worked to rescue passengers.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi expressed grief at the loss of lives. Kharge and Gandhi, the Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, respectively, also urged local Congress workers to provide all possible help to the families of those affected. Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X, "The news of the deaths of many people in a horrific road accident in Almora, Uttarakhand, is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured."
"My deepest condolences to the affected families. I appeal to the government and administration to provide immediate compensation to the victims and make full aid for proper treatment of the injured," Kharge said on X.
