Uttarakhand tragedy: 43-seater bus carrying 60 plunges into 200-metre gorge, leaving over 35 dead

A 43-seater passenger bus fell into a 200-metre-deep gorge at Marchula, Uttarakhand, while travelling from Pauri in Garhwal to Ramnagar in Kumaon, resulting in over 35 deaths. The accident occurred about 35 km from the destination, Rampur. (Photo: Agencies)

The accident, officials said, took place around 8.25 am. Residents of the nearby villages were the first responders and started rescuing passengers. While several passengers died at the spot, at least nine succumbed to injuries after they were rushed to hospital. (Photo: Agencies)

Some passengers were airlifted and taken to AIIMS. The bus belonged to Garhwal Motor Owners' Union and a probe is on to identify the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Officials from Almora and Ramnagar were on the spot. (Photo: Agencies)

The chief minister's office confirmed that a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also joined the search and rescue operation. (Photo: Agencies)

Initial survivor reports indicate that when the 43-seater bus plunged into the gorge, some passengers were thrown out by the impact, while others managed to escape on their own. Those who reached safety were able to alert authorities. (Photo: Agencies)

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke with the secretary of disaster management department, the commissioner of Kumaon division, and the district magistrate (DM) Almora to gather information on the bus accident and directed them to speed up rescue and relief operations. (Photo: Agencies)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. (Photo: Agencies)

Almora District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Vineet Pal, who confirmed the number of casualties, said rescue operations are ongoing and the death toll is likely to rise. (Photo: Agencies)