Uttarakhand: 19 dead, 17 injured in bus accident

Dehra Dun, Sep 2: At least 19 people were killed and 17 others injured when a bus plunged into a gorge near Saurn village in Tehri district of Uttarakhand today.

According to the Disaster Management Control Room and Tehri SP, the accident took place at around 1030 hrs when the bus, heading towards Ghansali from Guttu with 36 passengers, fell into a gorge near Saruna village, killing 17 people on the spot and injuring 19 others, of which four were seriously injured.

Two seriously injured people later succumbed to their injuries at the Pilkhi Primary Health Centre, taking the toll to 19.

The injured were admitted to the Primary Health Centre, Pilkhi and those in critical condition were taken to Rishikesh Hospital.

Chief Minister B C Khanduri ordered a magistrial probe into the accident. An ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 will be made to the families of the each deceased, Rs 25,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 5,000 each to those who sustained minor injuries.

UNI