- At least 36 die after bus falls into a gorge in India
- The accident occurred early on Monday morning in the town of Marchula
- India has one of the highest road accident death rates in the world
At least 36 die after bus falls into a gorge in India
At least 36 people have died and 27 others injured after a bus plunged into a 50-meter-deep gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora district. The accident occurred early on Monday morning in the town of Marchula, when the driver lost control of the bus, which was en route to Ramnagar district.
The bus was carrying 44 passengers, and images from the scene showed the vehicle overturned at the bottom of a hill, with several passengers reported dead at the site. Rescue teams have been working to transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
The Uttarakhand state government has launched an inquiry into the cause of the crash, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced financial compensation for the victims’ families—200,000 rupees ($2,378) for the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured.
Bus accidents are unfortunately common in India, where the hilly terrain and overcrowded vehicles often contribute to fatalities. India has one of the highest road accident death rates in the world, with over 160,000 fatalities annually, mainly due to speeding and reckless driving.
