By Nikita Yadav, DELHI India
At least 36 people have died and 27 have been injured after a bus fell into a gorge in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand.
Officials said 44 people were
on board when the driver lost control and the bus fell into a 50m-deep ditch in
Marchula, located in the state’s Almora district.
The state government has
ordered an inquiry into the accident.
Buses are the main mode of
transport in the Himalayan state and accidents are not uncommon.
The bus was on its way to the
state's Ramnagar district when the accident took place on Monday morning.
Photos and videos from the
site showed the badly damaged vehicle overturned at the bottom of a hill.
Several passengers died on the
spot, while those injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Rescue operations are
still under way.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi has expressed his condolences for the families of the victims.
He has announced compensation
of 200,000 rupees ($2,378; £1,834) for the families of the deceased and 50,000
rupees to those who were wounded.
Uttarakhand's Chief Minister
Pushkar Singh Dhami has also announced financial assistance for the victims and
their families.
Buses are a common mode of
transport in India, especially between smaller towns and districts. However,
operators often flout safety rules and overcrowd them beyond capacity.
Approximately 160,000 people
are killed in road accidents in India every year - the highest in the world -
mainly due to speeding and careless driving.
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