A tragic road accident claimed at least six lives in Uttarakhand's Almora district on Tuesday morning when a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine. The bus, carrying approximately 18 passengers, was traveling from Bhikiyasain to Ramnagar. According to official reports, the vehicle lost control near Shilapani on the Bhikiyasain-Vinayak-Jalali motor road, leading to the fatal fall. The bus had reportedly started its journey from Dwarahat around 6 a.m. before meeting with the disaster.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and emphasized that rescue and relief efforts are being conducted on a priority basis. Local authorities confirmed that six passengers died on the spot due to the impact of the fall. The injured passengers were immediately rushed to the nearest government hospital in Bhikiyasain, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
Upon receiving the news, teams from the local police, district administration, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the rugged terrain to launch a rescue operation. The difficult geography of the deep gorge has posed challenges for the rescuers. Officials expressed concern that a few more passengers might still be trapped inside the mangled remains of the bus, prompting an intensive search of the wreckage.