Uttarakhand: At least 26 persons are confirmed to have died after a bus carrying 28 tourists from Panna district in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday evening. According to officials of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), which is involved in the rescue and relief operation along with the district administration. The passengers were on their way to Yamunotri Dham in Uttarkashi.
“On Sunday evening we were informed that around 4 km ahead of Damta, under the Purola police station area, a tourist bus fell into a gorge. The bus reportedly had 28-30 passengers and fell into a 150-metre-deep gorge. Soon after getting the information, SDRF teams reached the spot and started a rescue operation,” read a statement issued by the SDRF.
“So far, we have recovered 26 bodies from the spot and five were injured. As per unverified information, one of the injured died during treatment. There were a total of 30 persons on the bus 28 pilgrims, a driver and a conductor,” said an SDRF official, adding that the rescue operation was going on.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ex gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the kin of those killed in the accident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each.