Dehradun: At least 45 people were killed after a bus fell into a 60-metre gorge in Uttarakhand Sunday, police said.
According to the police, the accident took place at about 9 a.m., near the Queens Bridge on the Pipli-Bhaun road when the driver lost control of the 28-seater bus.
It occurred near Gween village when the overloaded private bus, on its way to Ramnagar, fell into the 200-metre-deep gorge, Pauri Superintendent of Police Jagat Ram Joshi said.
The SP, who rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident, said at least 45 people were killed and 8 injured, who have been rushed to a hospital in Dhumakot.
However, the exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, he said.
DIG Garhwal range Sanjay Gunjyal said, rescue operations are being carried out by the police and SDRF personnel, while senior officials have rushed to the spot.
Governor K K Paul and Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and instructed the district administration to extend all help to the injured and the kin of the deceased.
Inspector General of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Sanjay Gunjial has informed that a chopper has been rushed to airlift the remaining injured people.
IANS/PTI
