A tragic road accident in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district on Wednesday claimed the lives of four individuals and left 21 others injured when a roadways bus plunged into a 100-meter-deep ditch near Bhimtal. The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, with rescue operations underway and officials providing updates on the situation.
Accident Details
The ill-fated bus, belonging to the state roadways, was en route from Bhimtal to Haldwani, carrying around 20 to 25 passengers. Superintendent of Police, Dr. Jagdish Chandra, shared details with the media: “A roadways bus was heading from Pithoragarh to Haldwani. The driver lost control of the bus and it fell into a deep gorge…The injured have been rescued with the help of locals. 21 people have been injured and 4 people have died.”
Video footage shared by ANI depicted the challenging rescue operations conducted by the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and local volunteers. Rescue teams from Nainital and Khairna were promptly dispatched after receiving information from the district control room.
SSP Nainital, Prahlad Meena, confirmed, “Today, on 25 December 2024, information was received from the District Control Room, Nainital that a roadways bus has crashed near Bhimtal, on which the rescue teams of SDRF have left for the spot from Post Nainital and Khairna.”
Response and Relief Efforts
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “The news of the death of 4 people in the unfortunate bus accident near Bhimtal is extremely heart-rending…The seriously injured people are being treated at Sushila Tiwari Government Hospital, Haldwani, and a team of doctors from AIIMS Rishikesh has also been sent to Haldwani. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of all the injured.”
Similar Tragedy in Jammu and Kashmir
This devastating accident occurred just a day after a separate tragic incident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, where five Army soldiers lost their lives after their vehicle plunged into a 300-350-foot-deep gorge. The accident took place in the Gharoa area during a convoy’s journey from Nilam Headquarters to Balnoi Ghora Post.
A defence spokesperson stated that the accident is believed to have been caused by the driver losing control at a sharp turn. Rescue teams have since recovered the bodies of the soldiers.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah extended his sympathies to the families of the deceased soldiers. “He expressed his deep sorrow and over the incident near the forward post along the Line of Control (LoC),” a government spokesman said.
The Army ruled out any terrorist involvement in the incident. “A terrorist-initiated incident [has been] positively ruled out after confirming from ground sources. Own post approximately 130 m from the incident site and backup vehicle was barely 40 meters away,” the Army spokesperson clarified.
Army’s Condolences
The Northern Command, also known as Dhruva Command, mourned the loss of its personnel. In a message on X, the Command stated, “Lieutenant General M V Suchindra Kumar and all ranks extend their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of five brave soldiers. Dhruva Command stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”
Ongoing Investigations
Both accidents have highlighted the dangers of mountainous terrain and the need for stringent safety measures. Authorities in Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir are investigating the causes of these tragic incidents to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As rescue and relief operations continue, the incidents have left communities mourning the loss of lives during what should have been a season of celebration.