Bus plunges into 200-meter gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora, 7 dead, rescue operations underway

On Monday morning, a bus carrying approximately 40 passengers fell into a 200-meter-deep gorge near Kupi in Ramnagar, along the Pauri-Almora border in Uttarakhand. The Garwal Motors Users’ 42-seater bus was traveling from Garhwal to Kumaon when it veered off the road and crashed near Marchula in Almora district. District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey reported that at least seven passengers were confirmed dead, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue operations continue.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local Almora police, launched a large-scale rescue effort, deploying five ambulances to the accident site. The challenging terrain of the mountainous region has made evacuation efforts difficult, with rescue teams manually retrieving passengers from the gorge. Several passengers sustained severe injuries from the impact, and authorities are working to identify those critically injured to prioritize medical evacuation.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences for the victims and instructed rapid action from the district administration. The Chief Minister personally coordinated with the Secretary of Disaster Management, Kumaon’s Divisional Commissioner, and the District Magistrate of Almora. His office confirmed that plans are underway to airlift passengers in critical condition to better-equipped medical facilities in the region. Rescue teams are also providing first aid on-site before transporting injured passengers to Almora's nearest health centers.

According to initial reports from rescue personnel, the impact of the fall caused many passengers to be ejected from the bus, scattering them along the steep gorge and complicating search efforts. In addition to the SDRF, a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived to provide further assistance. SDRF and NDRF personnel are working jointly to expedite rescue and recovery amid the difficult, rocky terrain.