ALMORA: Monday, 4 November, At least 36 passengers are reported to have died in the road accident occurred in Salt Tehsil of district Almora. A bus fell into a deep gorge in Kupi near Marchul, after the driver allegedly lost control of the bus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami have expressed shock and grief over this tragic incident. PM Modi also announced ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakhs, each, to the next of kin of those who died in the accident and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami prayed to God for the peace of the souls of the deceased and for the bereaved families to bear the grief in this hour of grief. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also announced addition ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakhs, each, to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh, each, to the injured. The Chief Minister also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
As soon as the information about this tragic incident was received, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with giving instructions to the concerned officials for immediate relief and rescue work, reached Ramnagar himself and inquired about the well-being of the injured in the bus accident in Marchula and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. Taking action, he issued an order to suspend the ARTO of Pauri and Almora. The bus is reported to have been overloaded with passengers.
The Chief Minister inquired about the condition of the injured admitted in Ramnagar Hospital and gave necessary instructions to the CMO and other doctors for their better treatment. He said that every injured person should get the best possible treatment, if there is a need to send them to a higher center, then they should be sent immediately by air ambulance. During this, the Chief Minister also met the families of the injured and assured them of providing the best possible treatment to the injured.
In this incident, 6 seriously injured were sent to AIIMS Rishikesh by air ambulance and 1 injured to STH Haldwani by air ambulance and 5 other injured were sent to STH Haldwani by 108 ambulance, 5 injured were taken to other hospitals on the demand of their relatives. 9 injured are admitted in Ramnagar Hospital and are being treated.
