PNS | HALDWANI
Four people lost their lives and 25 others sustained serious injuries when an Uttarakhand Roadways bus fell into a 100-metre-deep gorge in Bhimtal, Nainital district on Wednesday. The accident occurred around 1:30 PM near Aamdali in Bhimtal where the roadways bus, bearing registration number UK07PA 2822 and carrying 29 passengers, was headed toward Haldwani from Pithoragarh. The bus veered off course and plunged into the deep gorge.
The officials said that upon receiving information from the Nainital district control room, authorities mobilised rescue teams. Two teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), led by sub-inspector Manish Bhakuni, were dispatched from Khairna and Nainital posts under the direction of SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi. The officials said that the teams collaborated with local police, fire services, and villagers in a coordinated rescue operation. According to them, the rescue operation involved a challenging effort to extricate the injured and deceased from the steep gorge. The rescue operation was completed by 3 PM. Four passengers were found dead, including two men aged 45 and 60 years old, a woman aged about 45 years and a 12-year-old child. The bodies of the deceased were handed over to the local police for further procedures.
CM announces ex-gratia to Bhimtal accident victims
DEHRADUN: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed grief on the death of passengers in the Bhimtal bus accident. He announced ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to kin of dead in the accident. Dhami said that a sum of Rs three lakh each will be given to the seriously injured people in the accident while an amount ranging between Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 will be given to the passengers with minor injuries. In a statement the CM also praised local people and personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel for helping the injured in the accident. He said that the presence of local people in the rescue operation highlights the love and care the people of the State have towards one another. Dhami also expressed gratitude to the rescue team which saved precious lives in the accident.
The officials said that the injured passengers were rushed to nearby medical facilities, who later were referred to the higher centre in Haldwani due to their critical injuries. The officials said that 24 injured were admitted in Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani and one was admitted in Krishna hospital for advanced care.
The cabinet minister Rekha Arya and Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat also visited Sushila Tiwari Hospital to meet injured passengers and assess their condition later in the evening. Rawat said that the hospital administration has been directed to give the best treatment and care to the injured.
