Death Toll In Bus Accident In Uttarakhand's Almora Rises To 36, PM Modi Announces Rs 2 lakh aid

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said instructions have also been given to airlift seriously injured passengers if required.

The number is expected to increase, officials said.

Source : PTI

At least 36 people have been confirmed dead after a bus carrying 45 passengers fell into a 200-metre-deep gorge in the Almora district of Uttarakhand on Monday, officials said. The bus was going from Pauri to Ramnagar when the accident took place at Marchula, District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey said. Police, SDRF and NDRF personnel immediately rushed to the spot to launch a search and rescue operation.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand: A Garwal Motors Users' bus fell into a gorge near Kupi in Ramnagar at Pauri-Almora border. Deaths and injuries feared. Search and rescue operation underway. Details awaited.

(Video: SDRF) pic.twitter.com/dzSgKw6tkF

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2024

PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased in the accident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief at the loss of lives and said instructions have also been given to airlift seriously injured passengers if required.

"Very sad news has been received about the casualties of passengers in the unfortunate bus accident that took place in Marchula of Almora district. The district administration has been instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations swiftly. The local administration and SDRF teams at the accident site are working rapidly to evacuate the injured and take them to the nearest health center for treatment," CM Dhami said in a post on X.

जनपद अल्मोड़ा के मार्चुला में हुई दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण बस दुर्घटना में यात्रियों के हताहत होने का अत्यंत दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ। जिला प्रशासन को तेजी के साथ राहत एवं बचाव अभियान चलाने के निर्देश दिए हैं।

घटनास्थल पर स्थानीय प्रशासन एवं SDRF की टीमें घायलों को निकालकर उपचार के लिए…

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 4, 2024

The chief minister has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of those killed in the accident and an aid of ₹ 1 lakh for those injured.