Chakrata Accident: PM Modi & HM Amit Shah Condole Deaths As Fatalities Reach 13, Ex Gratia Of Rs 2 Lakh Announced

PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the loss of lives as the death toll reached 13.

File Photo

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday expressed condolences to the kin of those who lost their lives in the Chakrata road accident.

Earlier in the day, a road accident was reported at Bulhad-Baila road in the Chakrata tehsil of Uttarakhand's Dehradun district wherein a utility vehicle carrying 15 passengers fell into a deep gorge, killing 13 people on the spot and leaving two injured, police said.

The utility vehicle met with the accident near Bayala village on way to Vikasnagar from Tyuni, they said as reported by news agency PTI.

The driver lost control over the vehicle and it fell into a deep gorge, killing 13 people on the spot.

PM Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives as the death toll reached 13.

“The road accident at Chakrata in Uttarakhand is very saddening. The government and local administration are engaged in relief and rescue operations. My deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones in this accident. At the same time, I wish the injured a speedy recovery”: PM Modi said, as tweeted by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

उत्तराखंड के चकराता में हुआ सड़क हादसा अत्यंत दुखद है। सरकार और स्थानीय प्रशासन राहत और बचाव कार्य में जुटे हुए हैं। इस दुर्घटना में जिन लोगों ने अपने प्रियजनों को खोया है, उनके प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। इसके साथ ही घायल लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं: PM Modi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 31, 2021

He also announced that an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of those who lost their lives in a road accident in Chakrata. 

“An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic accident in Chakrata, Uttarakhand. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each: PM @narendramodi,” the PMO further informed.  

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic accident in Chakrata, Uttarakhand. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 31, 2021

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to Twitter and wrote: “I express my condolences to the people who have lost their families in Chakrata, Uttarakhand when their car fell into a gorge. May God give them the strength to bear this grief. The state government is engaged in providing all possible help and treatment to the injured”. 

उत्तराखंड के चकराता में गाड़ी के खाई में गिरने से जिन लोगों ने अपने परिजनों को खोया है, मैं उनके प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ। ईश्वर उन्हें यह दुःख सहने की शक्ति दे। प्रदेश सरकार घायलों को हर सम्भव मदद व उपचार देने में लगी है। घायलों के शीघ्र ही स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 31, 2021

He also wished for a speedy recovery of the injured.

The death toll in the Dehradun road mishap climbed to 13, Dehradun District Magistrate Dr. R Rajesh Kumar told news agency ANI. 

Dehradun District Magistrate informed that teams have been deployed at the accident site to conduct rescue operations and two have been rescued so far. 

He has given further information on the road accident of Bulhad-Baila road in the Chakrata tehsil of Uttarakhand's Dehradun district. 

Speaking to ANI, Kumar said, “We had received info that the vehicle rolled down a gorge. The teams are on the spot and 13 deaths are confirmed, two have been rescued so far and making postmortem facility available at the spot”.

“CM has sent a message that compensation will be given to injured and kins of deceased,” he added. 

A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team had retrieved the bodies and the two injured persons were admitted to a nearby hospital.

Police said the exact reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained but overloading could be a cause, PTI reported.

Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami had also expressed grief over the deaths while informing that the district administration has been directed to expedite rescue and relief operations and provide immediate treatment to the injured.

Ordering a magisterial probe into the accident, CM Pushkar Dhami asked the state roadways department to ensure that vehicles stop the practice of overloading.

He also advised passengers not to travel in overloaded vehicles.

(With Inputs From Agencies)