On Monday, a tragic accident occurred in Almora district, Uttarakhand, when a poorly maintained and overcrowded bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge. The bus, which was carrying around 60 passengers, tragically resulted in the loss of at least 36 lives, with more than 20 individuals sustaining injuries.
Rescue and relief teams were swiftly deployed to the scene of the accident, where the mangled remains of the bus lay overturned on a rocky slope near a stream. Television footage captured the harrowing efforts of rescuers as they worked to extract passengers and transport bodies to safety.
Authorities have expressed concerns that the death toll may rise further, particularly as seven passengers currently hospitalized are in critical condition. The state government has initiated an investigation into the incident, with initial reports suggesting that the dilapidated bus skidded before plummeting down a 60-meter-deep gorge.
Following the accident, two transport officials have been suspended for approving the operation of a bus in poor condition. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the road safety challenges faced in India, where reckless driving, inadequate road maintenance, and aging vehicles contribute to a high rate of road fatalities.
Earlier this year, similar incidents claimed the lives of numerous individuals, including a collision between a double-decker bus and a milk truck in Uttar Pradesh that resulted in 18 fatalities, as well as a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims that skidded into a gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, claiming the lives of at least 21 people.
