November 4, 2024: A tragic bus accident in Uttarakhand’s Almora district on Monday morning claimed the lives of at least 23 passengers, with more than a dozen others sustaining injuries. The bus, which was reportedly overloaded, fell into a 200-meter-deep gorge near Ramnagar, according to police officials.
The bus was en route from Garhwal to Kumaon when it veered off course and plunged into the ravine at Marchula in Almora district. District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey confirmed the accident, adding that rescue operations were quickly mobilized.
IG Nilesh Anand Bharne, spokesperson for the Police Headquarters, reported that over 45 people were aboard the bus, including several children, some of whom are among the deceased.
In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of each deceased, and Rs 50,000 for each injured passenger.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took immediate notice of the accident, directing officials to expedite relief efforts and coordinate the airlifting of severely injured passengers to nearby hospitals if necessary. He stated, “The unfortunate news has come in regarding the casualties of passengers in a bus accident that occurred in Marchula, Almora district. The district administration has been directed to swiftly carry out relief and rescue operations.”
Chief Minister Dhami also announced ex gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured. He further ordered the suspension of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) enforcement in the Pauri and Almora regions, highlighting concerns about the bus’s capacity and safety protocols. Dhami requested a magisterial inquiry into the incident, assigning the Commissioner of the Kumaon Division to oversee the investigation.
Teams from the local administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to the accident site, working throughout the day to rescue passengers and retrieve bodies.
