At least 36 people have been killed and several others injured after a bus veered off the road and fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand, a northern state in India.
According to officials, 44 people were on board when the driver lost control, causing the bus to plunge nearly 50 meters into a ravine in Marchula, located in the Almora district.
The state government has launched an investigation into the incident. Buses are a primary mode of transport in the mountainous state, where accidents are frequent due to challenging terrain.
The accident occurred on Monday morning as the bus was traveling to Ramnagar district. Photos and videos from the scene reveal the bus overturned and severely damaged at the bottom of the hill.
Several passengers died instantly, while injured individuals were transported to local hospitals, and rescue efforts are still ongoing.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families, announcing a compensation of 200,000 rupees (approximately $2,378) for the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also announced aid for the victims and their families.
While buses are commonly used for transport across India, particularly between small towns, safety regulations are often ignored, with buses frequently overloaded.
India has one of the highest road accident fatality rates globally, with about 160,000 deaths annually, mostly due to speeding and reckless driving.
Source-BBC
