Overview
- Police confirmed seven fatalities and about 11–12 injuries after the crash near Vinayak/Salapani on the Bhikiyasain–Vinayak road.
- Officials said roughly 18–19 people were on board the bus traveling from Dwarahat/Bhikiyasain to Ramnagar when it fell into a deep gorge.
- SDRF, police and district teams conducted difficult rescues, moving the injured to Bhikiyasain hospital, with several seriously hurt referred or airlifted to higher centres, including AIIMS Rishikesh.
- An inquiry is underway into potential causes such as driver loss of control, road conditions or a technical fault, with the exact trigger yet to be determined.
- Reports differ on the bus’s ownership, with some outlets citing the state-run KMVN and others describing it as a private vehicle; Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief and directed prompt care for the injured.