7 killed, 11 injured after bus plunges into gorge in Uttarakhand's Almora

Almora bus crash

• Bus falls into gorge in Uttarakhand's Almora, killing 7 and injuring 11
• Rescue teams faced tough terrain; injured sent to hospitals for treatment
• Uttarakhand aims to cut road accidents by 50% by 2030 with new safety policy

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Seven people were killed and 11 others were injured after a passenger bus fell into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora district on Tuesday morning. The tragic accident took place near Bhikiyasen when the bus was travelling on a hilly stretch of road.

The bus, operated by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), was heading towards Ramnagar when it allegedly lost control near Bhikiyasen and plunged into a gorge. According to the police, 18 passengers were on board the mini bus at the time of the accident.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Devendra Pincha said that seven people died on the spot, while the remaining passengers sustained injuries. “The bodies have been recovered from the gorge, and the injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment,” he said.

Soon after the accident, teams from the district administration, local police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were sent to the site. The rescue operation was challenging due to the steep terrain and narrow road conditions in the area.

Rescue personnel used ropes and stretchers to bring out the injured and recover the bodies. The injured passengers were first given primary treatment and later shifted to hospitals in the region. Some of them, who were seriously hurt, were referred to higher medical centres for advanced care.

Police officials said the exact cause of the accident is not yet known.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Calling it “extremely painful and heart-wrenching,” he said he was in constant touch with local authorities to ensure proper medical care for the injured.

In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said that all injured passengers had been admitted to nearby hospitals and those with serious injuries were shifted to advanced medical facilities. He added that the situation was being closely monitored by the state government.

Road safety remains a major concern

Uttarakhand witnesses over 1,000 road accidents every year, mainly due to its narrow, winding mountain roads, HT reported. The risk increases during monsoon and winter seasons when rain, fog and poor visibility make travel more dangerous.

To address the issue, the Uttarakhand cabinet approved the Road Safety Policy, 2025, in February. The policy aims to reduce road accidents by 50 per cent by 2030 by improving road infrastructure, enforcing traffic rules, increasing public awareness and strengthening emergency medical response systems.