There are unconfirmed reports that around 40 people were killed in a bus accident.
The death count in the bus accident in Uttarakhand’s Almora district has climbed to 36. According to district authorities, the 45-seater passenger bus fell into a 200-metre-deep gorge at Marchula this morning while travelling from Pauri in Garhwal to Ramnagar in Kumaon — an overnight journey of about 250 km.
It met with the accident about 35 km from the destination Rampur.
Police and the State Disaster Response Force have launched a rescue operation at the accident site.
The accident, took place around 8.30 am. Residents of the nearby villages were the first responders and started rescuing passengers.
While several passengers died at the spot, at least nine succumbed to injuries after they were rushed to hospital. Three passengers have been airlifted and are being taken to AIIMS.
The bus belonged to Garhwal Motor Owners’ Union and a probe is on to identify the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Officials from Almora and Ramnagar are on the spot.