Two people were electrocuted to death and many reportedly sustained injuries after an 11,000 volt high tension power line fell down on a bus carrying about 25 people from Gaulikhal to Ramnagar. The bus travelling from the Pauri district to Ramnagar in Nainital district met with the mishap when it reached the border of Almora and Nainital districts on Wednesday morning.

While one woman and one man on the bus died on the spot, the others in the bus jumped out to save their lives.

The locals point out that this incident has also exposed the major negligence of the power department regarding regular maintenance and checks especially in view of the ongoing season.

According to sources, the bus with about 25 passengers had left from Gaulikhal area in Pauri district of the Garhwal region to Ramnagar in Nainital district of the Kumaon region.

It was reported to be near the Marchula area along the border of Almora and Nainital districts when a high tension overhead power line collapsed onto the bus, due to which a high voltage current passed through the body of the bus.

The two people who were fatally electrocuted in the bus were identified as 45-year-old Puran Chandra, a resident of Dungra village in Salt, and 65-year-old Jhumki Devi, a resident of Gaulikhal in Pauri district.

According to sources, while Jhumki Devi was reported to be travelling to Ramnagar for a bank-related work, Puran Chandra was travelling with his wife to Kashipur when the fatal mishap took place.

The bus passengers and locals were complaining after the mishap that neither an official from the district administration nor anyone from the electricity department had arrived at the site of the mishap despite the seriousness of the incident.