A tragic bus accident in the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand has claimed seven lives and left twelve others injured. The private bus, carrying 19 passengers, plunged approximately 200 metres into a deep gorge on Tuesday morning.
Chronology of the Tragic Incident
The accident occurred at around 9 am on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in the Almora district. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Devender Pincha, the bus was en route from Dwarahat in Almora to Ramnagar in Nainital when it met with the disaster at a bend. The vehicle fell off the road into the steep gorge below, killing six individuals on the spot.
Rescue and Medical Response
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) immediately launched rescue operations. Officers at the site reported that among the seriously injured, three victims were airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for advanced care. Another three were referred to medical facilities in Ramnagar. The remaining injured are receiving treatment at a government hospital in Bhikiyasain.
The deceased include four men and three women, while the injured comprise ten men and two women. The district control room has identified the victims as:
- Govind Ballabh (80)
- Parvati Devi (75)
- Nandan Singh (65)
- Tara Devi (50)
- Ganesh (25)
- Umesh (25)
- Govindi Devi (58)
They hailed from various localities within Almora district, including Jamoli and Dwarahat.
Probe into the Cause and Official Reactions
Preliminary investigations suggest a possible technical fault. An SDRF official indicated that the driver might have been unable to steer the vehicle away from the bend due to a mechanical issue. It was confirmed that the bus was not overloaded. The regional transport officials have been directed to probe the matter thoroughly.
Further scrutiny revealed that the bus, registered in 2019, had two pending challans for traffic and parking violations in Nagina and Najibabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed profound sorrow over the loss of life. He directed the district administration to ensure prompt and adequate medical treatment for all injured passengers. His office confirmed that the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals, with the critically hurt being transferred to higher medical centres for better care.
