Road accidents claim 169 lives in state since June 15 this year

At least 169 people died in bus accidents in Uttarakhand since June 15 this year, where snaking, narrow roads on mountainous terrain often make transit treacherous, especially during the monsoons and winters, when poor visibility makes difficult journeys even tougher.

- Amit Bathla

[e-mail] DEHRADUN: Over 500 people also sustained injuries in road accidents during this period, according to the official data from the Dehradun-based state emergency operation centre.

40 died in accidents in Almora district With 40 deaths, the Almora district recorded the highest number of fatalities since June 15 among all the 13 districts in the state.

On November 4, in total 38 passengers were killed and over 24 were injured when a private bus, in which they were travelling, fell into a 150-metre-deep gorge at Almora district in Uttarakhand. According to officials, the bus owned by Garhwal Motor Owner's Union Limited was carrying 63 passengers, although its seating capacity was 42. The bus travelling from Dhumakot in Pauri Garhwal to Ramnagar in Nainital district - a distance of about 80 km - and was overcrowded as many were returning to work after the Diwali holidays. It was the worst accident in the hill state since July 2018, when 48 people were killed in Pauri Garhwal.

A magisterial probe was ordered into the accident, but its report is yet to be released.

The other two fatalities were recorded in other minor accidents in the district.

24 dead in each in Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal The toll in Almora is followed by Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal as two districts reported 24 deaths each in road accidents since June 15.

Among the 24 deaths in Rudraprayag district, the maximum number of casualties were reported on June 15, when a minibus carrying tourists fell into a gorge on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway, resulting in 15 deaths and injuries of 11 passengers.

The 24 deaths in Tehri Garhwal were registered following multiple minor accidents.