At least 36 killed as bus falls in India’s Uttarakhand

The death count in the bus accident in Uttarakhand's Almora district of India has climbed to 36, reports ndtv.

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. Police and the State Disaster Response Force have launched a rescue operation at the accident site.

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.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said the district administration has been asked to speed up the rescue operation. "Received very sad news of casualties of passengers in the unfortunate bus accident that took place in Marchula of Almora district. The district administration has been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations swiftly," he said on X._Agencies.