Nainital, December 25, 2024: Four people lost their lives and 21 others were injured when a roadways bus plunged into a 100-meter deep gorge near Bhimtal in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district on Wednesday.
The bus was traveling from Pithoragarh to Haldwani when the driver reportedly lost control, causing the vehicle to fall into the ravine. “The roadways bus was en route from Pithoragarh to Haldwani when the driver lost control and it fell into a deep gorge. Four individuals died, and 21 others were injured,” said Dr. Jagdish Chandra, Superintendent of Police, Nainital.
Emergency teams, including the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), were immediately dispatched to the site after the distress call was received. “The injured have been rescued with the help of local residents. Rescue teams from Nainital and Khairna have reached the location to assist in the operation,” SSP Nainital Prahlad Meena confirmed.
Footage shared by news agencies showed SDRF personnel working diligently to recover the injured.
The bus was reportedly carrying 20 to 25 passengers when the accident occurred. Initial reports indicated that the passengers were on their way from Bhimtal to Haldwani at the time of the incident.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences on social media, writing, “The news of the death of 4 people in the unfortunate bus accident near Bhimtal is extremely heart-rending…The seriously injured people are being treated at Sushila Tiwari Government Hospital, Haldwani, and a team of doctors from AIIMS Rishikesh has also been sent to Haldwani. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of all the injured.”
The authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, as the injured are treated for their injuries in nearby medical facilities.
