36 lives were lost in the Almora bus accident. Most of the people who lost their lives in the bus accident were those who had come to their villages to celebrate the festival of Diwali. At the end of the holiday, people boarded the already packed bus in a hurry to reach home. No one had any idea that an accident would take their lives even before reaching the destination.
A bus packed with passengers went out of control and fell into a ditch about 150 feet deep in Marchula of Salt development block of Almora district. There was a scream as soon as the bus fell. First, some youth from Kupi village and surrounding areas reached the spot. Who started taking out the injured. Also informed the administration. The injured were taken to hospitals in Devyal and Ramnagar in private vehicles.
Bus driver Dinesh Singh resident of Bhairangkhal, Salt was mentally disturbed. He was repeatedly getting calls for money. This was told by the injured Harish Chandra Pokhriyal admitted in Ramnagar hospital. According to injured Harish Chandra Pokhriyal, he was sitting on the seat next to the driver. Seeing the driver under mental stress, when the passengers asked him, he told that he had to pay Rs 2.5 lakh to someone. The passengers gave him courage. Amidst the tension, she lost control of the vehicle at a turn and the bus fell into a ditch.
As soon as information about the accident was received, administrative officers, SDRF, police and PAC personnel from areas like Ramnagar, Kashipur, Almora etc. reached the spot and started relief and rescue operations. 36 passengers died and 19 passengers were reported injured in the accident. The dead also include elderly and children.
Fitness and permit valid till 12 March 2025
The accident bus is registered in Pauri RTO. RTO Pauri Dwarika Prasad told that the bus is near 43 seats. Fitness and permit is valid till 12 March 2025. RTO said that continuous checking of buses is going on in remote areas. This year, the RTO team has taken seizure and challan action against 113 buses, taxis and maxis for not getting updates on their fitness etc.
Pauri district administration also came into action on the information about the accident of a bus going from Kinath to Ramnagar in the remote block of Nainidanda of the district near Sarad Band. DM Dr. Ashish Chauhan held a meeting with all the concerned officers at the District Disaster Operation Center and asked them to start immediate relief and rescue work for the accident affected people. The DM instructed SDM Lansdowne and Chaubattakhal to reach the spot immediately. Regional officers and employees of the Revenue and Development Department were asked to expedite relief and rescue operations at the incident site.
Read this also…Bus Accident: Almora accident reminded of Dhumkot incident two and a half years ago, 33 lives were lost.
After the bus accident in Almora, PM Narendra Modi has expressed condolences by tweeting. He wrote- My condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the road accident in Almora, Uttarakhand. Along with this, I wish speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is making every possible effort for relief and rescue.
