In Uttarkashi, a bus full of Chardham pilgrims fell into a 200 feet deep gorge at 7.45 pm on Sunday evening. 26 people died in this accident while four were injured. Of these, 23 died on the spot while three died during treatment at the hospital. Efforts are on to identify the dead. The driver and the operator of the bus and 28 pilgrims resident of Jakhla village of district Panna in Madhya Pradesh were on board. The accident took place in the Rikhaon Khad area, about 5 km from Damta on the Yamunotri Highway. The bus left Haridwar for Yamunotri Dham. On the information of the accident, along with Barkot and Purola police, SDRF, NDRF team reached and started the rescue operation. Purola police station in-charge Ashok Kumar said that seven injured were rescued, in which three were women. He was admitted to CHC Naugaon for treatment. Three of them died during treatment. Four injured are undergoing treatment. 

Due to the deep ditch and darkness, it is difficult to bring the dead bodies to the road. The accident was so horrific that the bus got blown up. SDM Barkot Shalini Negi, CO Surendra Bhandari are present on the spot.

District Panchayat member Hakam Singh Rawat is an eyewitness to the bus accident that took place near Rikhaon Khad on Yamunotri Highway. He told that when he reached the spot, there was goosebumps. 

The bus was blown up after the accident. The bodies of the passengers were hanging from the trees. Someone’s hand was missing and someone’s leg was missing. Hakam, who took training in disaster management, somehow got into the ditch. He immediately informed the DM, SP and CO about the incident.

District Panchayat member Hakam Singh Rawat from Jakhol ward number 22 of Mori block told that he had left for Uttarkashi from Dehradun on Sunday. The bus which had been the victim of the accident was moving ahead of them. 

He wanted to overtake the bus. But he could not go ahead due to the continuous arrival of vehicles. Meanwhile, in the bus going ahead, it seemed as if its steering failed or the driver had a nap. 

The bus fell straight into the ditch. After the accident, Hakam Singh along with some of his companions landed in the ditch where the bodies of people were hanging on the trees.

Passengers’ belongings were scattered all around. There was a scene of screaming. He released photographs of the accident site from the spot. After which the system swung into action.