Six Killed as Passenger Bus Falls into Ravine in Uttarakhand’s Almora

Almora: At least six people were killed after a passenger bus carrying around 18 occupants lost control and plunged into a deep ravine on the Bhikiyasain–Vinayak road in Uttarakhand’s Almora district on Tuesday morning, officials said.

According to official sources, the accident occurred near Shilapani on the Bhikiyasain–Vinayak–Jalali motor road. The bus was travelling from Bhikiyasain to Ramnagar and had started its journey from Dwarahat at around 6 a.m.

While en route, the vehicle reportedly went out of control and fell into a deep gorge. Six passengers were declared dead on the spot. Officials believe that 17 to 18 people were on board at the time of the mishap.

Several passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to the nearest government hospital in Bhikiyasain for treatment. Some of the critically injured have been referred to higher medical centres for advanced care.

Following the incident, teams from the police, district administration, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were immediately deployed to the site. Rescue operations are ongoing, and authorities have expressed concern that a few passengers may still be trapped inside the vehicle.

Senior district officials have also reached the spot to supervise the rescue and relief efforts. The accident site is located nearly 100 kilometres from the district headquarters, which has posed additional logistical challenges for emergency response teams.

Officials confirmed that the driver and conductor of the bus are safe and in stable condition.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident. In a post on X, he said the news of the bus accident on the Bhikiyasain–Vinayak motor road was extremely distressing and heart-wrenching.

He offered prayers for the departed souls and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families, while also wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. The Chief Minister said the district administration is ensuring prompt medical care for the injured and that the situation is being closely monitored in coordination with local authorities.

With inputs from IANS