At least 48 dead as bus plunges into Uttarakhand gorge

At least 48 passengers were killed in Indian state Uttarakhand when their bus fell into a gorge on Sunday morning. While 45 of them died on the spot, the critically injured were rushed to the hospital. The accident took place on the Pipali-Bhoan motorway in Pauri Garhwal's Nainidanda block.

The police and a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in rescue operations, according to an NDTV report.

About 50 passengers were travelling in a 28-seater mini bus which was headed for Ramnagar from Bhoan. The reason for the accident isn't known yet, police said.

The incident occurred near Gween village when the overloaded private bus fell into the 200-metre-deep gorge, Pauri Superintendent of Police Jagat Ram Joshi said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat offered his condolences to the families of those killed. The chief minister has announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh each for the families of the dead and Rs. 50,000 each for the injured.