At least four people including a child were killed and nearly 23 others sustained injuries after a roadways bus travelling from Bhimtal to Haldwani in Uttarakhand plunged into a gorge on Wednesday.
The accident took place near Aamdali in Bhimtal, Nainital district. The police and local rescue teams are carrying out relief operations. The SDRF and fire department teams have also been dispatched to the spot from Nainital.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed grief over the bus accident in Bhimtal. He said the local administration is carrying out immediate relief and rescue efforts.
The bus fell into a 1500 feet deep gorge on the Bhimtal-Ranibagh motor road. The injured were brought to the road with the help of police personnel and locals who rushed to the spot after receiving the accident news. The injured are receiving treatment at the Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani.
The deceased have been identified as Khadak Singh (55), his wife Ganga Dhami (48), Surendra Singh Dharmasattu (58) and Daksh Pant (6), PTI reported.
"The injured were first rushed to the Community Health Centre in Bhimtal from where they were referred to higher centres. Some of them are in critical condition. Relief and rescue operations were launched with the help of locals," Bhowali Circle Officer Sumit Pandey said.
"It was difficult for the fire department and SDRF teams to pull the bodies and the injured out of the gorge as the dept to which the bus had fallen was 1,500 feet," Pandey added. The passengers were pulled out using ropes.
CM Dhami Announces Ex Gratia
Later in the day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
"An assistance of Rs 3 lakh will be given to the seriously injured and Rs 15,000-25,000 to those who sustained minor injuries," he said.
Out of Rs 10 lakh to be paid to the bereaved families, Rs 5 lakh will be given by Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, Rs 2 lakh from Road Safety Fund, and Rs 3 lakh from Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund.
In another similar incident in Uttarakhand, a school bus carrying 45 students met with an accident on late Tuesday night. The bus lost control on the road when it was on its way to Dehradun from Bageshwar.
A 16-year-old girl's leg was stuck in the bus in the accident. She was later rescued safely. A joint team of SDRF and district police carried out the rescue operation. They later confirmed that the students were safe and none of them suffered serious injuries.
The accident took place when the students were travelling to Dehradun to participate in a sports event. The exact cause of the accident is being investigated.