36 dead as bus crashes in India

A bus in India plunged into a deep Himalayan ravine on Monday, killing at least 36 passengers and injuring several others, a government official reported.

Photos from rescue teams showed the crumpled wreckage in thick undergrowth, with the bus’s front crushed nearly flat. oad accidents are common on the mountainous roads in the Himalayas, mostly due to poor maintenance and reckless driving on the challenging terrain.

“So far, 36 casualties have been confirmed,” said Deepak Rawat, a senior official from Uttarakhand. “Three critically injured passengers have been airlifted to the hospital.”

Volunteers formed a human chain along the steep slopes and across a rushing river, helping to pull the wounded from the bus’s remains. Bodies were laid on the back of a truck.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his “deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the unfortunate road accident.” Modi's office announced that families of the deceased would receive InRs 200,000 ($2,380) in support, and those injured would receive InRs 50,000 ($595).

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an investigation into the accident, which occurred in forested hills near Almora. Hundreds of people die in road accidents in India every year.