Baby Chakraborty, Kalimnews, October 5, 2024, Pauri (Uttarakhand) : In a devastating accident on Friday night, at least 30 people lost their lives, and several others were critically injured when a bus carrying a wedding party plunged into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. as the bus, en route from Laldhang in Haridwar to Biran Khal village, lost control and fell nearly 200 feet into a ditch, just two kilometers from the bride’s home.
The bus was carrying 40 to 50 passengers, mostly family and friends of the groom. Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle suddenly swerved off the road, leading to the catastrophic fall. Local villagers rushed to the scene after hearing the cries of the trapped passengers, and emergency services were immediately alerted. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police arrived quickly, launching a large-scale rescue operation.
While 25 to 30 people were declared dead on the spot, the remaining survivors, many of them severely injured, were rushed to nearby hospitals. Authorities fear the death toll may rise, given the critical condition of several victims.
Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri visited the accident site shortly after news broke. However, her arrival was met with protests from grieving and angry villagers, reflecting the deep shock and sorrow felt by both families involved in the wedding.
The rescue operations continued through the night, as officials worked tirelessly to retrieve bodies and aid survivors. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, though authorities are considering factors like road conditions and possible mechanical failure.
This tragic event has cast a shadow over what should have been a joyous occasion, leaving two families shattered by grief. The local administration has vowed to provide assistance to the affected families, but the sense of loss remains overwhelming as the region mourns this heartbreaking accident.