At least six people lost their lives when a bus carrying around 18 passengers veered off the road and fell into a deep ravine on the Bhikiyasain-Vinayak road in Uttarakhand’s Almora district. The tragic incident occurred near Shilapani on the Bhikiyasain-Vinayak-Jalali motor road while the bus was on its way from Bhikiyasain to Ramnagar, having left Dwarahat at 6 a.m. The bus lost control during the journey, leading to the fatal plunge.
Several passengers sustained injuries in the accident and have been taken to the nearest government hospital in Bhikiyasain for medical treatment. Upon receiving news of the mishap, teams comprising police, district administration, and the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) rushed to the scene to initiate rescue operations. Authorities are currently working on rescuing any potential passengers still trapped inside the vehicle.
The location of the accident, nearly 100 kilometers away from the district headquarters, is posing challenges for relief efforts. The driver and conductor of the bus, fortunately, escaped unharmed and are reported to be in stable condition. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured that rescue and relief operations are being prioritized.
