A tragic bus accident in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand has claimed the lives of at least 36 people, leaving 27 others injured after the vehicle fell into a 50-meter gorge. Officials reported that the accident occurred in Marchula, Almora district, when the driver lost control of the bus, which was carrying 44 passengers en route to Ramnagar.
The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Photos and videos from the scene reveal the bus lying overturned at the base of a steep hillside, with significant damage from the fall. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the injured have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and announced a compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,378) for each family who lost a loved one, and 50,000 rupees for those injured. Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has also pledged financial support for the affected families.
Buses remain the primary mode of transportation in the rugged Himalayan region, but accidents are frequent, often due to overcrowding and poor safety compliance. India records approximately 160,000 road accident fatalities annually—the highest in the world—largely due to.
