my uttarakhand news Bureau
Almora, 30 Dec: A tragic road accident in Almora district has claimed seven lives and left 12 others injured when a passenger bus plunged into a deep gorge near Shilapani in the Bhikiyasain area this morning. The bus, travelling from Dwarahat towards Ramnagar on the Bhikiyasain–Vinayak motor road, went out of control and fell into the ravine, causing panic and chaos in the vicinity. Rescue teams comprising the police, administration, SDRF and disaster management personnel rushed to the spot and faced immense challenges due to the difficult mountainous terrain. After strenuous efforts, the injured were rescued and admitted to nearby hospitals, with two critically injured persons airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for advanced treatment.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed shock and grief over the accident.
The ill-fated bus belonged to Kumaon Motor Owners Union (KMOU) Limited and bore registration number UK 07 PA 4025. It is reported that the bus had departed from Ramnagar for Dwarahat Nobada yesterday at 11 a.m. and left Dwarahat Nobada for Ramnagar at around 6:30 a.m. this morning. It met with the accident near Sailapani Bend at approximately 8 a.m. The bus was carrying 19 passengers in total.
While the driver and conductor escaped unhurt, 7 passengers died on the spot and 12 sustained injuries. Several of those injured are reported to be in critical condition.
According to the Almora district administration, the deceased include Govind Ballabh (80), Parvati Devi (75), Nandan Singh Adhikari (65), Tara Devi (50), Ganesh (25), Umesh (25) and one unidentified young man whose identity is being verified. The injured have been identified as Nanda Ballabh (50), Rakesh Kumar (40), Nandi Devi (40), Hansi Sati (36), Mohit Sati (16), Buddhi Ballabh (58), Harichandra (62), Bhupendra Singh (64), Jitendra Rekhari (37), bus driver Naveen Chandra (55), Himanshu Paliwal (17) and Prakash Chand (43).
CM Dhami has expressed deep grief over the accident and has directed the district administration to ensure immediate and proper medical facilities for all the injured. He stated that he is personally monitoring the situation and remains in constant contact with officials. The CM also prayed for peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences and expressed sorrow over the tragedy.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accident may have occurred due to the driver losing control of the vehicle. A detailed inquiry into the causes of the accident is underway. The incident has once again highlighted the risks of travel on hill roads and the urgent need for enhanced safety measures in the region.
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