Uttarkashi, August 20, 2023
Introduction
In a heart-wrenching incident, seven people lost their lives and 27 others sustained injuries when a bus plunged into a gorge near Gangani on the Gangotri national highway. The bus, carrying a total of 35 passengers, was en route from Gangotri to Uttarkashi when the tragedy occurred around 4 pm.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences and extended his sympathies to the families of the deceased. He wished a swift recovery for the injured individuals who were being rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Dhami assured that he had issued directives to the district administration to organize relief efforts and ensure proper medical care for the injured.
Rescue operations were immediately initiated by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and other teams. Uttarkashi District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Devendra Patwal confirmed that seven lives were lost in the incident, while 27 injured survivors were being attended to at medical facilities. The identities of the victims were yet to be fully confirmed, but initial information indicated that the bus was transporting pilgrims from Gujarat.
Lalita Negi, the SDRF media in-charge, reported that rescue teams were tirelessly working to locate any potential survivors. The injured were promptly transported to hospitals for medical attention. Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela and Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi were on the scene overseeing the rescue and relief efforts.
The exact cause of the tragic accident remained unknown at the time of reporting. Authorities were investigating the circumstances that led to the bus falling into the gorge. A helicopter was put on standby in case there was a need to airlift the injured to higher-level medical facilities.
Conclusion
This incident adds to the grim statistics of road accidents in the region. Since June 15, a total of 53 lives have been lost, with 157 individuals injured, and three still reported missing due to various road accidents in Uttarakhand. The highest toll was seen in Pithoragarh district, followed by Pauri, Tehri, Dehradun, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Almora, Haridwar, Nainital, and Rudraprayag districts.
As the state mourns the loss of lives in this unfortunate event, authorities and citizens alike are called upon to prioritize road safety measures and vigilance to prevent further tragedies on the region’s treacherous roads.
