At least 36 people were killed and 27 injured when a 42-seater private bus carrying 63 passengers plunged into a 200-metre-deep gorge near Marchula in Almora district of Uttarakhand around 7.30 am on Monday. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief and condoled the bereaved family members. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered the suspension of the Assistant Regional Transport Officers (ARTOs) of Pauri and Almora districts while also directing the Kumaon commissioner for a magisterial probe into the accident.
According to officials, the bus, owned by Garhwal Motor Owners Union Limited (GMOU), was en route from Naini Danda in Pauri district to Ramnagar in Nainital district when it reportedly lost control around 7.30 am near Sarad Bend and plunged into the gorge along a stream. The force of the fall ejected some passengers, while others managed to escape on their own. Those who climbed to safety alerted authorities, prompting immediate response from the police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined the rescue operation within two to three hours. Local villagers also assisted in locating passengers trapped in the wreckage, as per the officials. Initially, 28 passengers were found dead at the scene and later, eight more succumbed to injuries in hospital. Six passengers were also airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh in the afternoon while another six were admitted to Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani. All victims were locals from Pauri, Nainital and Almora districts.
The senior superintendent of police of Almora Devendra Pincha told The Pioneer that preliminary investigation suggests overloading and technical fault in the bus as the potential causes of the accident. As per the CM's order, the joint transport commissioner Sanat Kumar Singh suspended two ARTOs of Ramnagar and Pauri, Neha Jha and Kulwant Singh, respectively. Singh said that the lead agency of the Transport department will conduct an inquiry and further strict action will be taken against guilty officials accordingly.
