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At least 36 people have died and 10 are injured as a bus carrying around 40 passengers plunged into a deep gorge in India's Uttarakhand. Another five people are still missing.
The accident occurred near Marchula in Almora district on Monday, reports the Times of India. "At least 20 fatalities have been confirmed, with several others injured who have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Local villagers are assisting rescue workers to locate passengers still trapped in the wreckage, Vineet Pal, Almora’s disaster management officer, told TOI.
Officials fear the death toll could rise.
The bus coming from Naini Danda in Pauri Garhwal district was travelling to Ramnagar in Nainital district. It reportedly veered out of control around 7am near the Sarad Bend and plunged into a gorge along the Geet Jagir riverbank, an official said.
Emergency responders, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and medical teams, rushed to the spot. Almora SSP and disaster management officials are overseeing the rescue efforts.
Survivors said that when the 42-seater bus fell, passengers were ejected due to the impact, while others managed to escape. Those who climbed to safety alerted authorities.
Authorities are investigating whether the accident was caused by a mechanical glitch or other factors. Garhwal Motor Owners Union Ltd (GMOU) owned the bus.