36 dead after bus plunges into gorge in northern India

At least 36 people have been killed and several others injured after a bus fell into a 50-meter deep gorge in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand.

The accident took place in Marchula, a hilly area in the Almora district, where officials say the driver lost control of the vehicle, which was carrying 44 passengers.

The state government of Uttarakhand has initiated an investigation into the accident.

Buses are the main mode of transport in the mountainous state, where road accidents are a recurring problem due to the challenging terrain and busy roads.

The bus was on its way to Ramnagar district when it veered off the road on Monday morning.

Photos and videos from the scene showed the mangled bus overturned at the bottom of a hill. Several passengers were reported dead at the scene, while survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Rescue operations are underway as local residents and officials work together to retrieve survivors.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the families of the victims and announced financial assistance of 200,000 rupees (approximately $2,378 or £1,834) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also promised support to the victims and their families.

With around 160,000 fatalities per year, India leads the world in the number of deaths from road accidents, a situation attributed to factors such as excessive speed, overcrowding and inadequate safety standards – problems that are particularly prevalent in rural and mountainous areas.