November 4, 2024: A devastating bus accident in Almora district has left at least 20 people dead after a 45-seater passenger bus plunged into a 200-metre-deep gorge near Marchula this morning. The bus was en route from Garhwal to Kumaon when the tragic incident occurred.

Emergency services, including local police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed to the scene, launching a swift rescue operation. Eyewitnesses report harrowing scenes as rescue teams work to locate survivors and retrieve those trapped within the wreckage.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences and urged the district administration to expedite rescue efforts. "I received very sad news of casualties among passengers in this unfortunate accident. The district administration has been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations swiftly," he stated on social media platform X.

The Chief Minister also announced a compensation package for the victims’ families, offering Rs 4 lakh for those who lost their lives and Rs 1 lakh for the injured. Additionally, he has directed the suspension of Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials in the area as part of an accountability measure. A magisterial inquiry into the accident has also been ordered to determine the circumstances leading to the tragedy.

Local authorities have assured that teams are working diligently to evacuate the injured and transport them to the nearest health facilities. For those critically hurt, airlifting to specialized medical centers will be arranged if necessary.