At least seven feared dead after bus falls into gorge in Almora

At least six to seven people are feared dead after a passenger bus fell into a deep gorge near Shelapani on the Bhikiyasain–Ramnagar road in Uttarakhand’s Almora district on Tuesday morning, officials said.According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the bus, carrying around 17–18 passengers, skidded off the road near the Vinayak area, about four kilometres ahead of Bhikiyasain, and fell into a gorge. Preliminary reports suggest that at least six to seven people may have been killed in the accident.
Rescue teams from the SDRF and local administration were rushed to the spot soon after receiving a distress call. The injured passengers were evacuated and taken to the Government Hospital in Bhikiyasain for treatment, while those with serious injuries were referred to higher medical centres.“Rescue teams have been dispatched to the site. There are reports of some fatalities,” Almora Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha said, adding that relief and rescue operations were underway.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the incident and said he was in constant touch with district authorities to ensure all possible assistance to the victims.“We have received extremely distressing news of a bus accident on the Bhikiyasain–Vinayak Motor Road in Almora district. This incident is deeply painful,” the chief minister posted on X. He added that the injured were being promptly admitted to hospitals and the situation was under continuous monitoring.

जनपद अल्मोड़ा में भिकियासैंण से रामनगर जा रही बस के भिकियासैंण–विनायक मोटर मार्ग पर दुर्घटनाग्रस्त होने का अत्यंत दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ है, जिसमें यात्रियों के हताहत होने की सूचना है। यह घटना अत्यंत पीड़ादायक और हृदयविदारक है।

ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि दिवंगतों की आत्मा को…

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) December 30, 2025

Union Minister and Almora–Pithoragarh MP Ajay Tamta also expressed sorrow over the mishap. He said police and administrative teams reached the spot immediately and were engaged in a comprehensive rescue operation.“The news of this horrific road accident is extremely heartbreaking. Medical facilities are being provided promptly to the injured,” Tamta said in a post on X.

अल्मोड़ा जनपद के भिकियासैंण-विनायक मार्ग पर हुए भीषण सड़क हादसे का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद और पीड़ादायक है। एक बस के सड़क से फिसलकर खाई में गिरने से कई यात्रियों के हताहत होने की सूचना मिल रही है।

— Ajay Tamta (@AjayTamtaBJP) December 30, 2025